We have all seen the ads for medications on television. At the end of the ad, a narrator rattles off a whole bunch of terrible and frightening side-effects, leaving us to wonder: “How safe is this medication?”
Avante Health is concerned about your mental and physical health. We believe that if you are being prescribed medication to treat your condition, then you should be informed about the possible side-effects of the medication(s) – those that may affect you mentally and those which may affect you physically.
Here are some things you can do:
- Ask your physician about possible side-effects. Specifically ask, “Are there any possible effects on my physical health?”
- Ask if the medication will require blood tests to monitor for changes in your blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides, liver and/or kidney function, and thyroid function. If so, how often will these need to be checked?
- Ask if the medication level in your blood needs to be monitored, and how often should this be done?
- Ask if there are any possible allergic reactions? If you have an allergic reaction, what should you do?
- Ask if the medication will interact with any other medications you are taking. Be sure to give your physician a list of ALL medications including doses and frequency they are taken (including birth control, over the counter, and herbal treatments) you take on a regular basis.
- Ask if the medication may affect your appetite, weight, and blood pressure? Ask your physician to check these at EVERY visit.
- Ask about any possible mental side-effects. Will this medication cause me to become drowsy? Will this medication affect my ability to concentrate? Will this medication make me nervous or irritable?
- Ask “What should I do if I have side-effects?”
At Avante Health, we will also work with you and your physician to ensure the safety of your medications. Some of the things we will do to make sure your physician is paying attention include:
- Make sure that individuals being prescribed medications which require monitoring for changes in blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides, liver, kidney, and thyroid functions are having these tests done when needed
- Making sure that medication blood levels are being obtained when appropriate
- Encouraging our panel of physicians to check weights, blood pressure, and pulse rates at every visit
- Ensuring that our physicians communicate with their patients’ Primary Care Physicians on a regular basis to coordinate treatment
By working together we hope that you will enjoy Good Health – Mentally and Physically.