Medication timing is vital to make the most out of the them. If you’re advised to take medications we need to make sure they’re a good fit. I mean, you are taking them for a reason, so let’s make them work to the best of their ability. I am a huge advocate of getting the correct medication, at the correct dose, and taken at the correct time to achieve your health goals. Easier said than done, I get it! Here are some tips on how to make the most of the medications you’re taking, but it definitely warrants a discussion with your doctor, pharmacist or care team too.
- Medication – there is a plethora of medications to help manage different conditions. If you don’t like how one works, the cost, the side effects, or any other attribute talk with your provider to get that changed. Remember, YOU are the driver of your health, your TEAM (health care professionals) are here to give you advice and guidance. If you shy away from prescribed medications, ask your TEAM to consider supplements. Not managing your condition because you don’t like the medication never tends to end well. Let’s get it right, to fit YOU!
- Dosing – Medications over time will likely need to be dose-adjusted. If your condition was controlled and now is whirling out of hand, check the dose. Maybe you have lost or gained weight, we know you have aged (haven’t we all), so you can’t expect it to work at the same dose forever. Talk with your provider to review the dose and see if it needs adjustment.
- Duration of Action – Check with your pharmacist, physician or diabetes educator to understand how long your medications are working in your system. You may need to get a better schedule to make sure you are not stacking (overlapping) your dose by taking them too close together. The same goes for taking them too far apart. It really is a balancing act, but once you find the correct balance you will feel so much better.
- Storage and Disposal – I see people carrying their medications with them but some medications (like insulin) needs to be in a stable temperature. If your insulin is in the heat it may denature (go bad) and you won’t even know it until your sugars start to climb and not come down with giving insulin. This is a costly mistake on your health and pocketbook! Make sure to bring an insulated cooling case to carry temperature-sensitive medicine. Also, pills should not be flushed down the toilet. Please take them back to the pharmacy or health department for proper disposal. We don’t want to further contaminate our water system. And let’s protect our garbage workers by disposing of your needles in a hard plastic container (like a laundry detergent bottle) that is duck-taped shut. If you have access to biohazard disposal, that’s ideal.
It was a game changer for our family when we figured out proper timing and dosing of our medications. I hope some of these tips help you as well!
It’s all about the timing….
