General Sample Articles for Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

Understanding Your Medicines

Did you know that taking your medications properly is one of the best ways to avoid future health care costs? Each year, thousands of people end up in the hospital, fail to get better, and spend more money that they have to simply because they do not take their medication properly.

Community pharmacists can educate you about your medications, both prescription and nonprescription. The Arkansas Pharmacists Association says that every person should be able to answer these questions before taking any new medication.

1. What is the name of the medication and what is it supposed to do?
2. When and how do I take it?
3. How long should I take it?
4. Does this medication contain anything that can cause an allergic reaction?
5. Should I avoid alcohol, any other medicines, foods, and/or activities?
6. Should I expect any side effects?
7. What if I forget to take my medication?
8. Is it safe to become pregnant or to breast-feed while taking this medication?
9. Is there a generic version of the medication that my doctor has prescribed?
10. How should I store my medications?

Safety Tips from Your Community Pharmacist

The Arkansas Pharmacists Association, representing Arkansas' community pharmacists, suggests the following guidelines to prevent medicine mix-ups:

• Be sure that your name is on every container of medication. If the medicine is for a child, be sure that the child's name is on the label.

• Never take a medication out of its original container to store it.

• Highlight the patient's name, the medication name, and the expiration date (if any) with a marker so they can be easily seen. Use a different color marker for each member of the family.

• Read the entire label every time you take medication yourself or give it to a family member.

• If you have stopped taking a particular medicine but have some left, check with your community pharmacist or doctor. Many medications should be taken until they are all gone and having leftovers could indicate that the medication was not taken properly.

• Properly dispose of any medicine that has not been used in six months.

• Do not share medicines. Medication should be taken only by the patient for whom it was prescribed.

• Keep a permanent, updated list of all medications taken by each family member as part of your family's history. Include prescription, and non-prescription medicines, as well as, herbal products and other dietary supplements.

How To Save Money at Your Community Pharmacy

Make sure you understand how to take your medication correctly. If you don't know, your community pharmacist can help. Taking your medication properly is one way to decrease your health care costs. Thousands of people every year end up in the hospital, fail to get better, and spend more money than they have to because they didn't take their medication properly.
To reduce the amount of money you spend per visit to a community pharmacy, discuss with your pharmacist the option of obtaining smaller quantities - perhaps 30 tablets instead of 60.
To reduce the amount of money you spend per dose of medication, discuss obtaining larger quantities - like two months' supply instead of one.
Remember, not all medications are appropriate for quantity adjustments; but if possible, those adjustments can help fit your prescription order to your needs. In any case, discuss the options with your pharmacist and make sure that your insurance will cover the option you choose.
Some - even your own health insurance provider - may recommend you split tablets of a higher dosage in order to save money. However, this is not always safe. Always consult with your pharmacist before deciding to split a tablet.
Ask your pharmacist if there is a generic version of the medication you take. These are products the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has judged equivalent to the brand-name product. Generic medications are usually less expensive than their brand-name counterparts. Your pharmacist can answer any questions concerning your use of these medications.
With recent Medicare reform legislation, there has been much in the news about new benefits to help pay for prescription drugs. Your pharmacist can help answer questions you have about these new programs.
Ask your pharmacist if he or she can refer you to any county or city agency that assists residents with health care costs. Some local organizations will help members of the community on a short-term basis to get them through a rough spot.