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How to Be Drug Smart
By Russell Wild
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Coping with Side Effects
Many medications can cause side effects. Here's how to cope…
Timing is everything
Sometimes beating a side effect is as simple as spacing out your doses: taking a little now and the rest later. "That's often a workable solution with many high blood pressure medications (which can cause dizziness)," says Brandon Koretz, M.D., assistant clinical professor with the UCLA School of Medicine. In addition, taking the drug with food (unless the label says not to) can reduce nausea, a common side effect with many pills. Niacin is another pill that can be taken with your meal. Swallowing it with food makes your face less flushed, a frequent reaction. For diuretics, which can keep you up at night running to the toilet, a solution may be to pop them earlier in the day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before changing the timing of your meds.
Switch, don't fight
Maybe you can't tolerate a drug that other people thrive on. Or maybe a drug that helped a friend gives you hives. Most drugs have possible alternatives. If you're having problems, talk it over with the doctor who wrote your prescription.
Beware of sneaky symptoms
Some of the most common drug side effects can mimic adverse signs of aging. "A number of medications can depress the central nervous system, causing anything from memory loss to unsteadiness on the feet to erectile dysfunction," says Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr., M.D., chairman of the Council on Family Health and former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. If you're taking medication and you haven't felt quite yourself, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Add a home remedy
When changing the timing or breaking up the dosage doesn't alleviate side effects, you might consider a home remedy or a simple over-the-counter medication. Narcotics, for example, almost always cause constipation. You can often fight back by drinking prune juice or taking a stool softener or stimulant laxative (but don't overdo it; overuse of laxatives is a common problem). Antibiotics often cause diarrhea and vaginal yeast infections. Yogurt with active cultures can help restore the natural flora found in the digestive tract. Many drugs, from buspirone (BuSpar) to fluoxetine (Prozac) to lovastatin (Mevacor), can cause xerostomia, a fancy word for dry mouth. Avoiding salty, spicy, and acidic foods—and drinking sips of water—may help you feel less parched. Several nonprescription products, generically called artificial salivas, can also give comfort.
Save the vitamins!
Certain drugs can drain your body of nutrients when taken for long periods of time. Antibiotics, anticonvulsants (seizure medications), and diuretics can deplete nutrients in your system. One countermeasure is to take supplements. Talk to your physician rather than self-dose.
Saving Money on Rx Drugs
The cost of some medications can be daunting. Here's how to save….
Ask for a cheaper drug
Sometimes the ticket to big savings is trading a new drug for one that's been on the market for some time. "Newer isn't always better; in fact, the opposite is often the case," says Over Dose author Cohen. "Some of the newer antibiotics being prescribed for sinusitis, bladder, and respiratory infections are terribly expensive, yet they don't work any better than penicillin or doxycycline, which cost mere pennies per dose. And they generally cause fewer side effects." Likewise, the acid blockers Zantac and Pepcid (now sold over-the-counter) are all many people need for mild heartburn, says Cohen.
Shop around
Keeping all your prescriptions at one pharmacy helps your druggist to track them. But drug prices can vary wildly from one pharmacy to the next, so keep looking if a price seems high. Also, you can often find savings by shopping online or by mail order. Many drugstore chains have sites that offer better deals than their stores. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy maintains a complete list of sites at www.nabp.org/vipps/consumer/listall.asp.
Uncover the coverage
If you have prescription coverage, use it. If a certain drug is turned down because it's not in the health plan's "formulary" (a list of covered drugs), don't despair. In many cases, the formulary will cover a similar or identical drug. If there isn't a suitable replacement, ask your doctor to help you get an exception. "If a doctor says a drug not on our formulary is the only one the patient responds to, then we'll cover it," says one prescription plan executive.
Request samples
Ask your doctor for free samples, particularly if you only need a one-time supply. Caution: Even though it's free now doesn't mean it won't cost a bundle when you fill your prescription. If it's a drug you'll need to keep taking, ask if it's the best choice over the long haul.
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