Generic Zyrtec is Not as GoodI just wanted to throw my two cents in about the generic Zyrtec. My husband does real well on Zyrtec, the allergy medicine. Well we tried to save a little money and bought the Walmart brand equate, there are some differences in the ingredients but we didn't think a lot.
Free Pill BoxesI love these little pill boxes they give out free at the pharmacy in Walmart where I get my prescriptions filled. They are white with raised letters and very good quality.
Check for Drug InteractionsI take 32 pills per DAY, not week, and 2 eyedrops, and 5 topical ointments. I put them all on drugs.com and found that I can only take 8 of them! Half interferes with one drug, and the other half totally wrecks glaucoma! One of the eyedrops interferes with the main drug, too.
Remembering to Take Morning MedicationsSince my blood pressure medication has been increased, it is very important that I don't forget to take it in the morning. For years, when I take my nightly medication, I have been putting my morning medication in this little jar and setting it on the counter where I will see it and remember to take it.
Safe Disposal of MedicineI went to get my flu shot and I am pleased to say we now have a medication disposal drop off box at our local CVS.
Mason Jars for Storing Daily MedicationI have tried this and that, and finally found the best way to take my medications. They have mini mason jars for 2/$1.00 at the Dollar Tree. This is 7 jars, one for each day. I have a big "I" on the top to remind me to take my insulin in the AM.
Do Not Mix MedicationI often house and critter sit for friends so they can get away. Rather than take my big pill minder, I often just mix the dosage for the amount of days I will be gone and throw them in a baggie. Don't be stupid like me.
Take Picture of Medication for Doctor's AppointmentAt the time of a doctor's appointment, a patient is required to inform the doctor of all medications taken on a daily basis. In order to document that vital health information, a person can take a photo of medication bottles on your cell phone, including all supplements, over the counter medications.
Save Money on PrescriptionsI work in a pharmacy and find there are several ways to save money on prescriptions that many of our patients are not aware of.
Plastic Card as Pill SplitterI found a good use for those AARP cards I received in the mail. For a pill splitter, tape two plastic cards together. Lay your pill on the edge of the cards and press down.
Keep a Medication ListAt the suggestion of my allergist, I keep an updated list of my medications in my handbag. She tells me that if you are taken to the hospital, it is very difficult to reconstruct a list of medicines for the patient.
Store Injection Pens in Toothpaste HolderI am diabetic. I often have to take my lantus pen with me when I am away from home. But, often people see the pen and get nervous when they think there might be body fluids on it.
Splitting Pills without CrumblingMy husband takes half of a pill, and I was having so much trouble with the cutter that I bought from the Pharmacy. It would cut the pill, but lots of times it crumbled into pieces instead of splitting it in half.
Cholesterol Medication Can Cause Liver DamageWhat I want to warn you about is the possibility of liver damage from statin drugs. My DH has just spent 3 days in the hospital because his liver count was up. He has been instructed not to take his pravastatin any more. After a couple of days without them his count is getting to be near normal.
Cell Phone Alarm as Reminder for MedicationI set the recurring alarm on my cell phone. I may not hear it immediately when it goes off, but I'll see it sooner than later as I look at my phone quite often.
How to Dispose of Unneeded Prescription...If you have any unused prescription drugs around the house you can dispose of them safely on Saturday, April 27th, 2013 at one of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day events.
Consult With Your Doctor About SupplementsI just wanted to respond to the guide about using vitamens and minerals. Always consult your physician before you start taking supplements. When you talk to him, take a list of the prescription drugs you take.
Buy Generic Allergy MedicationLots of people will suffer from seasonal allergies this time of year. I save more than half on the purchase of my allergy medicines. I buy the generic, always! I purchase them at the Dollar General or at SAV-A-LOT.
Use Pill Box For Weekly MedicationI sort out most of my medicines into a weekly pill box. There is one that won't fit, it is a chewable tablet. I take it twice a day at no specific times. I have the bottle on the bathroom counter.
Get Partial Fill On New PrescriptionsDue to a serious illness, I developed allergy/reactions to various medications, especially prescription drugs. This was costing me a small fortune, as I would fill a script and after 1 or 2 pills have to dispose of the rest because I could not tolerate them.
Warning: Avoid Citrus Products with PenicillinThis is a tip that my daughter and I learned the hard way. Most doctors won't tell you that penicillin and citrus don't go together. The citrus (OJ or any other citrus) will negate all the benefits of penicillin.
Used Coffee Grounds to Destroy MedicationUsed coffee grounds are one way to destroy medication. Put coffee grounds and pills in plastic bag, and pour enough water in bag to cover them.
Beware of Drug InteractionsMy father has been feeling incredibly ill lately. He has been suffering from muscle aches, weakness, vomiting, shaking, just to list a few. I visited him last week and noticed he had a huge load of medications he was instructed to take daily.
Use Chain Drugstores For Prescriptions When TravelingMy prescriptions here in Los Angeles are all from the neighborhood Rite-Aid drugstore. But since my husband and I often travel, I find it convenient to know that because the drugstores are all linked by computer, my prescriptions are on file.
Attached Pill Box to RefrigeratorI have one of those 7 day vitamin/ herbal supplement containers, and every week I fill it up with the week's takings. In order to remember, I glued a magnetic strip length wise on the bottom of the container.
Mark Medication Times On CalendarIf you have to take medication every day or more, and don't always remember if you take it, get into the habit of writing on a calendar the time of day or night every time you take it.
Purchase Generic Over the Counter MedicationsI work for a factory that packages medications. My specific line is Loratadine, which is the exact composition as Claritin. There really is no difference between the Claritin, Wal-Mart's Equate version, Target's Up and Up version, or CVS's Allergy Relief version.
Get Medication Information from Your PharmacistI have been taking synthroid for several years. I also take a medication for blood pressure. For the sake of convenience I have been taking them first thing in the morning both at the same time.
Cleaning Out the Medicine ChestI got this tip from Hospice. Sometimes we all have expired medications, prescription change medications or left over medications from pass away loved ones. This nurse told me to dispose of them by adding them to coffee grounds or soiled diapers.
Get Extra Prescription LabelsMy kids all have medication throughout the year. The pharmacist gives me a second label along with all the medications. When a small pill bottle becomes empty, I save it for those times that my kids go on sleep overs or camps.
Travel with Medications in Original ContainersI recently saw a tip from someone advising you to put your medications in those convenient daily containers when going on trips to avoid carrying the medicine bottles. I would strongly advise that you not do this!
Use Bill Tray for PillsI have been staying with my mom following surgery which impacted her eyesight. I noticed she was emptying her medications from the container onto a napkin prior to taking them. Most pills are white, most napkins are white.
Keeping Track of MedicationsI take a lot of medication due to my illnesses. To help me sort my medications, I mark the top of the identical bottles with an AM, NOON, or PM and some with both.
Automatic Refills at WalgreensI was constantly checking medicine bottles for refill dates. I discovered automatic refills at Walgreens. I set all of my husband's medications and mine on automatic refills and Walgreens e mails me when the prescriptions are ready.
"DAW" Prescription - Dispense as WrittenMy husband had trouble in the past with one generic drug. Our pharmacy always gave generics when available as the price is so much cheaper. Most insurance companies will not pay for name brand if there is a generic.
Get The Brand Prescribed By Your DoctorMy doctor called in a prescription for me, and specified the particular brand he wanted me to have. But instead of getting the brand he prescribed, I was given a different brand by the pharmacy, which had a terrible reaction to my system.
Save Medication Samples in PurseWhen I get single OTC pills through freebie offers (such as Zyrtec, Prilosec, etc.) I save them to put in a special "medical" pouch in my purse for emergencies. Ditto for single applications of SPF lotion.
Identify Prescription Bottles With SharpieI take several medications that I keep in my purse. Rather than looking at each name of medication (with my over 40 year old eyes), I mark each bottle with the first one or two letters of the medication or what the medication is for.
New and Transferred Prescriptions IncentivesTo get some bang for your expensive prescription bucks, you may want to transfer some prescriptions to your local Kmart. They are having a special offer right now in which you can receive up to four $25 gift cards between now and April 10, 2010.
Safely Disposing of MedicationsIn the past four months, I now have a few different medications that are not working for me or had a bad reaction to so did some searching about what to do with them.
Save Money on Prescription DrugsWith the economy these days prescription costs are just one more thing people worry about. Did you know that you can pay a reasonable price on many of the most needed medications if you just do your homework?
Dispose of Prescription Bottles SafelyBe especially safe with your old prescription bottles. Be sure and mark through the name of person and drug name with a marker before putting in trash as some people would try to get it filled, especially if it is for a pain pill.
Store Daily Medications In Snack Sized Plastic BagIf you are like me, you may have vitamins or medications that are too large or too many for a pill container. Take a recloseable snack size plastic bag and write with a permanent marker the days of the week or the number of days in a month.
Use a Light as a Pill ReminderI used to be so sleepy when I'd go to the bathroom to take my morning pill that later in the day I couldn't remember if I'd taken my pill or not.
Vegetable Peeler for Removing Prescription Bottle Label InfoThe other day I wanted to remove my name and numbers from an empty pill bottle before putting in the recycle bin. I was in a hurry and didn't have time to soak the label off, so I grabbed my vegetable peeler and gave it a couple of swipes, enough to remove all the personal information.
Comparison Shop Local PharmaciesIf you take particular medications regularly, compare prices with different pharmacies. Call each of them and let them know each medication you take; the name of the drug, the dosage, and the amount your prescription calls for; and ask what their price is.
Be Checked For Cataracts And Retinal Cysts When On TamoxifenThis tip is of vital importance for anyone on tamoxifen, which is prescribed for a breast cancer patient. As well as having an annual mammogram, make sure you have an annual eye exam.
Split a Pill ProgramCheck your prescription medications to see if they qualify for the "split a pill" program. The program identifies medications that you can take in 1/2 pill form and be safe knowing you are getting a correct dosage.
Walmart and Publix Have Deals On PrescriptionsI'd like to remind everyone that WalMart pharmacies are offering $4.00 generic drugs. You can find the list on the WalMart website - www.walmart.com. Just look at the pharmacy section.
SuperRXCard.com For Prescription DiscountsThere is a website that allows you to print a coupon that can be used over and over for discounts on your prescription drugs. Most major pharmacies accept it, like Publix, Walgreens, WalMart, Target, Savon etc. Go to SuperRxcard.com
Refilling Prescriptions OnlineMy long term prescriptions are filled via Internet and sometimes I'd forget which one had been refilled. Although we receive a confirmation email, all they give you are the numbers and it's inconvenient to be checking all of the bottles for a match.
Patient Assistance ProgramsPatient Assistance Programs. You can get lots of medicines free! Go to Patient Assistance Programs and put in the name of your medicine. The site will direct you to the manufacturer and tell you how to apply. Their income standards are quite liberal.
Discount Programs For PrescriptionsWe are without prescription coverage right now despite having insurance. Today I went to Fred's pharmacy and they signed me up for their discount program.
Memory Trick For MedicationsI take multiple medications and usually sort them out into a pill carrier every two weeks. However, I have one pill that I take twice a day at different times than my other meds.
Keeping Track of Medical InformationWe brought my mother to our home to live during the last few years of her life. She had a multitude of medications and medical information. Much of the information, especially prescriptions, changed often.
Free Medicine To Those Who QualifyWith the cost of heating bills soaring and gasoline constantly going up along with everything else many are unable to afford prescriptions. But there is hope...
Generic AllegraA generic just became available for the brand name Allegra. The generic name is Fexofenadine and it comes in the 30mg, 60mg and 180mg.
Ask for Double Dose PrescriptionsInsurance prescription providers are suggesting you ask your Dr if he can prescribe meds in double dose, and you can cut them in half, saving you and your insurance company a bunch of money. Of course, this is for long term meds being subscribed for over a month.
