Medication Information
Proper Use - Make sure you understand how to correctly take your medication. If you don't know, your pharmacist can help. Taking your medication properly is the best 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.

Food and Medication Interactions - Often there are certain foods, drinks, allergies, other medications or even certain activities, that should be avoided while taking a particular medication. Your pharmacist can tell you if a side effect is likely and how long the effect may last. Report to your pharmacist or doctor any other side effects experienced about which you haven't been previously warned.

Dosage - Always take your medication as instructed by your doctor and pharmacist. A medication will provide little benefit if you skip doses or if you stop taking it to save money or because you "feel better." Never change the way you take a medication without first discussing it with your health care professionals.

Insurance - Make sure you understand how your insurance plan helps cover the cost of your medications. If you're not sure, either call your insurance company or ask your pharmacist.

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.

Other information

For Patients

• WebMD
• Health A to Z - web-based disease management and health promotion
• RxList - the internet drug index

For Providers

• MicroMedex - Summaries and detailed monographs for drugs, disease, alternative medicine, toxicological managements, reproductive risks, and emergency care.
• Job vacancies at University of Missouri Health Care