it starts with communication with your doctor and pharmacist. make sure you know why you are taking all of your medications. this way you can try to minimize redundancy. ask your doctor for recommendations regarding when to take each medication – it might make sense to take your “water pill” earlier in the day so you aren’t woken up at night by the urge to go the bathroom. ask you doctor if routine liver or kidney laboratory testing is appropriate. bring your medication list with you to every doctor’s appointment or emergency room visit. one of the biggest causes of medication errors or side effects is when doctors prescribe people medications that they don’t tolerate or when similar medications are already being prescribed. remember that supplements can have side effects and may interact with your medications – know what you are taking and why you are taking it. when making changes in your medications it’s best to make one change at a time – that way you can identify the likely cause if a side effect occurs. take advantage of the pharmacist’s offer to counsel you regarding new medications.
what steps can i take to reduce my risk of serious drug side effects?