Rx Goals: 6 Ways To Improve Your Health

(StatePoint) While diet and exercise goals typically spring to mind when people decide to focus on their health and wellness, experts say that forming good habits relating to your pharmacy routine can go far in improving your overall health.

Susan Peppers, RPh, vice president, Express Scripts Pharmacy, suggests these goals to make the most of your pharmacy care.

Ask more questions

Many of us are hesitant to speak up when we have questions about prescribed medications or therapies. Don’t be! Pharmacists have clinical expertise and can play an important role in your whole health. At Express Scripts Pharmacy, pharmacists are available 24/7 to answer questions or talk through any other health issues you may be experiencing.

Never miss a dose

The best way to see improvement in both chronic and short-term conditions is to take medication as prescribed — the right dose at the right time in the right way. Try using a pill container or a dose reminder or taking your medication as part of your daily routine, such as brushing your teeth. Talk to your pharmacist about the best time to take your medication.

You should also consider ongoing home delivery — like that provided by Express Scripts Pharmacy — so you never run out of medication due to a missed pharmacy trip. Express Scripts Pharmacy customers can also enroll eligible medications in an automatic refill program. Your prescriptions will be refilled at the right time, so your medicine will always be on hand.

Take your medications safely

Taking medication the wrong way or without knowledge of their effects can be dangerous. Read and understand the instructions printed on your prescription label, so you can be sure you’re taking your medicine exactly as intended. For example, taking certain medications on an empty stomach if you’re supposed to take it with a meal can reduce their effectiveness.

You’ll also want to be sure you don’t mix your medication with certain other drugs or alcohol, or even engage in specific activities, like driving, if the label warns you against doing so.

Clean out your medicine cabinet

Many people find they’re more likely to take medications properly if they have a well-organized medicine cabinet. Go through and properly dispose of expired medications or those you’re no longer taking. For more information on discarding expired medications, visit express-scripts.com/askyourpharmacist.

Check-in with your doctor

Your health can change, and your prescriptions should change along with it. Schedule time at least once annually to go over everything you’re being prescribed. It’s a good chance to talk to your doctor about what’s working, what’s not and what might need adjustments. In turn, keeping all medications at a single pharmacy when possible allows your pharmacist to have the most accurate information to help keep you safe from drug interactions or medication issues. Be sure your physician knows which pharmacy you use.

Update your insurance information

Ensure you have updated insurance information accessible in case you need to reference it. Replace old cards with new ones as soon as you can to save time and reduce confusion when filling prescriptions.

For more medication pharmacy care resources and information, visit www.esrx.com/AskYourPharmacist.

With a few tweaks to your pharmacy routine, you can take better care of your health and improve your overall wellness.