Ch. 19 Lesson 2: Using Medicines Safely (Hannah Miller p.6)

Ch. 19 Lesson 2: Using Medicines Safely (Hannah Miller p.6)

1. Standards for Medicines

   • Prescription Medicines
     • Medicines that are dispensed only with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse-practitioner.
   • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines
     • Medicines you can buy without a doctor's prescription . The distribution of some OTC medicines is controlled. They can be used to make highly addictive, illegal drugs. 
   • Medicine Labels
     • The FDA requires that all prescription and OTC medicine labels contain information telling consumers how to use the medicine safely and effectively.

2. Medicine Misuse

   • Using a medicine in ways other than the intended use
     • Failing to follow instructions on the package, taking another person's medicine, taking too much or too little of a medicine, mixing medicines without the approval of health care provider, discontinuing use of a medicine without informing your doctor, and taking a medicine for a longer or shorter period of time than prescribed.
   • Medicine abuse
     • Intentionally taking medications for nonmedical reasons
     • lose weight or stay awake while studying
     • to fit in with peers
     • illegal and unsafe to use a drug not prescribed to you
     • drug overdose
       • A strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug.