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

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• Medicines that are dispensed only with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse-practitioner.

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• 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. 

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• The FDA requires that all prescription and OTC medicine labels contain information telling consumers how to use the medicine safely and effectively.

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• 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.

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• Intentionally taking medications for nonmedical reasons

1. lose weight or stay awake while studying
2. to fit in with peers
3. illegal and unsafe to use a drug not prescribed to you
4. drug overdose

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   • A strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug.