Independence From Ignorance: 5 Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Prescription Medication

b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel theme for this month is “Independence.” Quite appropriate, given America’s Independence Day celebration each year on the Fourth of July; however, American or not, everyone can celebrate independence from ignorance when it comes to prescription medication.

I thought offering up ways to become independent from ignorance about prescription medications – specifically, five questions to ask our doctors about prescription medications – would be appropriate.

5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Prescription Medications

Question #1 – What are the known side effects of this drug? This may seem like a real no-brainer, but it’s not. In their haste to help you get well, or, write you a prescription and move on to the next patient, doctors sometimes rattle through the side effects faster than drug commercials do, or they fail to mention them at all. Ask your doctor about the known side effects of the medicine, studies regarding the side effects of the medicine, and any experiences with side effects s/he knows about firsthand. And, keep in mind the answers should include side effects that come along with stopping the medication.

Question #2 – Are there any older alternatives? Taking the newest prescription medicine isn’t always a good thing. The newer the medicine, the more likely it is that there are still unknown side effects. When it comes to prescription medications, “older” doesn’t necessarily mean ineffective (though it does often mean less expensive!), so ask your doctor if your particular condition would benefit from older, more “tried and true” prescription medicines.

Question #3 – Is there a generic form of this prescription medicine? Don’t be afraid of the word “generic.” I myself am a huge fan of nearly all things generic (of course, that may just be the cheapskate in me), and Gary Buehler, the Director of the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs Some, tells us that “[t]he standards for quality are the same for brand name and generic products.” Some states actually require pharmacies to substitute generic prescription medications when available. It’s more cost effective, and you’ll find this extremely helpful should there come a time when you lose your health insurance.

Question #4 – How much does this stuff cost? This question goes hand-in-hand with the ones above. Whether it’s a name brand drug or a generic drug, you want to know how much it costs before you skip off to the pharmacy (honestly, passing out from price shock and sprawling out spread-eagle at the front of the line isn’t becoming). If it costs too much for you, pipe up. Ask if there is a cheaper, generic form, or a less-expensive, older alternative. This question can also help you prepare for financially unsure times.

Question #5 – Is there a non-prescription alternative? Medicine isn’t always the answer. Sometimes therapy, changes in diet, and changes in lifestyle may work just as well as a low milligram antidepressant. Obviously, your doctor (and not this blog post) should make that decision, but asking him or her about non-prescription alternatives may prompt a beneficial conversation that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise.

Do you have any experiences with asking doctors these or other questions you’d like to share? Feel free to leave ‘em in the comments!

In the meantime, for more information about prescription medications, check out the Mental Health Notes series Grab Drug Advertisements By The Pills.

Image: b5media