Treat Medication Samples
with Respect
A physician may give you samples of a particular medication
at the time of your office or clinic visit. Typically, this
may done at the start of a new prescription so the physician
can see if the medication is effective for your condition
and is well tolerated before you purchase a large amount.
This is a reasonable idea, particularly if it saves you from
having medications available that you can no longer use. (Keeping
medications on hand that have been discontinued is definitely
not a safe practice!). The best way to obtain samples is when
you receive a voucher from your physician that is later filled
at your pharmacy. Unfortunately, not all pharmaceutical companies
offer a voucher program for medication samples.
Problems with medication samples begin when they are dispensed
from the office without clear instructions for use. Errors
of all types have occurred when patients are unclear about
the use of sample medications. To be on the safe side, make
sure that when you receive a sample from your practitioner
there is a label attached which clearly indicates:
- Your name:
- The reason for the medication
- The amount that you should take
- The frequency with which you should take it
- Special precautions for use
- Any significant side effects that can be expected.
If you receive an antibiotic sample, you may need to add
water to make a liquid suspension. This should be clearly
described to you on the label. It is very important that
you following the instructions for dilution of the medication
very carefully, as adding the improper amount of water will
result in a concentration of medication that is too high or
too low. If a mix-up in the dilution occurs, your dose
will not be accurate.
Be aware of the expiration date on the package, as samples
may be stored for long periods of time in a doctor's office
before use.
If you are already taking other medications, or use over-the-counter
or herbal products, discuss any possible medication interactions
with your doctor. If a question arises at a later time regarding
potential interactions, contact your pharmacist or physician
for advise. You can check a particular medication by using
the link below. (Drug Checker).
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