Making a Medication List

How to properly list your Medications and Allergies.

Every medication that you take orally, nasally, rectally or by injection or as a cream applied topically (to the skin) must be listed. Including all over the counter and herbal items that are taken or used. Remember that there are interactions between these items and between some drugs and certain foods. Thus it is imperative that a complete list be maintained.

It is also important to note whether there is use of caffeine, alcohol or tobacco products. (There will be a future post containing more on this subject.) Remember eating poppy seed muffins will show positive for opiates on a drug screen so everything we consume can show up or cause an effect.

When making the list of medications you should include the details of the prescription and when and how youtake the prescription.

Again I mention that the list should include caffeine, alcohol and tobacco due to interactions or altered effectiveness of the prescribed medications.
As far as allergies, you must list every medication that you are allergic to and what your reaction was to this medication. (there will be a future post with more info on this subject.)

Copyright(c)2009, Angela Gunter

A Complete Medical History

Your Medical History

A complete medical history can be very difficult to remember while at the appointment, especially if you are seeing someone for the first time and needing treatment for illness or pain. However, that complete history is very important to your doctor in determining what screenings and precautions you should have or take to insure better health. Your history should include at least your own medical background.

You should include all treatments, past hospitalizations or surgical procedures you have undergone. You should also include an occupational history; describe any exposure to stress, toxins, radiation, or other occupational hazards that are on your job.

You should also obtain a family medical history if at all possible, note this is for genetic purposes and while adopted or step family history can show a stressor in your life it should be noted that they are not of blood kin. Your family medical history should note each member of the direct family. The history should include the age and health of each along with inclusion of age at death and cause of death for any that are no longer living. The health of each should be noted to include diseases that can be related through family or environment, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Cardiac disease, Respiratory conditions, or Cancers to name a few. The more complete you are with your history the more your doctor can be aware of concerns to your health.

Copyright(c)2009, Angela Gunter