Ch. 19 Lesson 2: Using Medicines Safely (Hannah Miller p.6)
Standards for Medicines
Prescription Medicines
Nota:
Medicines that are dispensed only with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse-practitioner.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines
Nota:
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.
Medicine Labels
Nota:
The FDA requires that all prescription and OTC medicine labels contain information telling consumers how to use the medicine safely and effectively.
Medicine Misuse
Using a medicine in ways other than the intended use
Nota:
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.
Medicine abuse
Nota:
Intentionally taking medications for nonmedical reasons
lose weight or stay
awake while studying
to fit in with peers
illegal and unsafe to use a
drug not prescribed to you
drug overdose
Nota:
A strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug.