Do you take your medication exactly as prescribed by your physician?

United States
August 18, 2007 1:12am CST
I am on several medications per day. I have trouble remembering to take my medications as prescribed. I take three pills in the AM on an empty stomach an hour before I eat or two hours after I eat. I then have four more I have to take at bedtime. I tend to forget to take my AM meds until I get hungry in the morning, and then I have to wait for an hour before I can eat. On weekends I tend to forget to take my AM meds all together, I do not know why, because I do not work. Now if you do not take daily medications do you take antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor until they are all gone or do you only take them until you feel better? Come on fess up and tell the truth.
7 people like this
20 responses
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
18 Aug 07
Well, to start with, I try to never take meds on an empty stomach - I've got a history of pitching them if I do. When I was working I was good about taking my meds, that I only took in the mornings. Since I retired, I've gotten really bad. These days I set my phone to remind me to take them. Nice thing about the iphone - I can set multipul alarms!
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
18 Aug 07
I'm still figuring the darn thing out! I'd let you look/play with it for a few minutes, but I don't want to pay for it either so I do want it back. (I didn't pay for this one either, my roomie works for Apple & she can't use it.)
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
thyroid replacement needs to be taken on a empty stomach and lasix workes better on an empty stomach. I take those two together in the AM the rest I take at night. You have an iPhone how do you like it. I would love to see on just to play with for a few minutes and give back. I do not want to pay for it.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 07
OK can I see it for 10 minutes and then you can have it back. I do not want to pay the cell bill. LOL
1 person likes this
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I have five shots and five pills o take every day for three separate conditions,lol. I'm pretty good at taking them on time,life gets wicked uncomfortable if i don't.
2 people like this
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
20 Aug 07
No, the symptoms are reminder enough.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Aug 07
It sounds like you have to take yours on time. Do you have a timer to remind you of the time? I think I would have to.
1 person likes this
@ashar123 (2357)
• India
19 Aug 07
If you are on medication then its your responsibility to take it properly and well on time. When I am not feeling well and doctor has suggested a prescription of medicines for me. I always take my medications on time.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Aug 07
I am so glad you always do what your doctor tells you. I guess I am just a forgetful person and do not.
1 person likes this
@Ricko82 (584)
• Philippines
19 Aug 07
I wonder what's going why you have to take that much medication everyday. However, if you say that 1 or more of it are antibiotics, please do take them religiously as bacterias can develop defenses against an antibiotic if they are not taken out at once. You may need a stronger antibiotics later, which I'm sure you do not want. Don't stop taking the antibiotics as soon as you feel better, the bacterias are still there, only weaken. But if you stop, they will develop that resistance and for sure you will need a stonger dose of antibiotics later.
• United States
19 Aug 07
I take two strengths of thyroid meds in the AM and others at night. I do not take antiboits on a routine basis. I have not had antibiots in over a year. I have been free from infection for a long time.
1 person likes this
@tuffy999 (794)
• Philippines
19 Aug 07
when it comes to medicines i'm a hypochondriac. i follow the instruction to the letter. so as i will not forget i place the medicines on the breakfast table so as it will be on plain site at all times.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Aug 07
I do not eat at my dinner table, I eat at the couch. I do have them in my ottomen by my couch you would think I would remember to take them when my feet are on the ottomen. LOL
1 person likes this
@ladybug565 (2216)
• United States
19 Aug 07
yes. I did stop taking a couple without telling the doctor though. I dont like taking medacine so I only take the ones I have to. my doctor put me on two very addictive medications at the same time and i had a really bad reaction so i just stopped taking them. one was Lyrica and the other hydrocodone 750.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Aug 07
Sounds like you are having nerve pain and the doctor is trying to keep you confortable. I think you would be gorcked out. I would do nothing but sleep.
1 person likes this
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
18 Aug 07
My wife is doctor's daughter. She is in-charge of medicines for all the family members and it is meticulously followed.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
Good for her. I wish I could remember to do that. My husband takes his better than I do.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
18 Aug 07
Thank you very much. I forgot my lipitor & inahlers once again today. I always forget about taking my meds. I have 2 different inhalers also and I never use them till I start hackcing from my smoking. Grrr! yeah I am a lazy sick puppy. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
• United States
18 Aug 07
I use to have to take inhalers. Than goodness I am better with my asthma. I do not live in all dust and have all the allergies I use to have. We need to have a mind set to take our meds.
1 person likes this
@beyonce03 (2331)
• Canada
18 Aug 07
When I have pills that are prescribed by the doctor, I take them all until the end. Even if you fell better, the illness can still be there. When It's pill when I'M sick, I have no problem taking it. I never forget them. But for example, I took the birth pills for 8 years and I forgot so many times my pills lol. Most of the time I was thinking about it because I was taking it before going to bed. But sometimes I could forget it 2-3 times in a row.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
You where playing with fire girl, its a wonder you did not get pregnant. At least I cannot get pregnant I would probably have six kids. LOL
1 person likes this
• India
18 Aug 07
yaa...i take them as the doctor prescribed. I am very careful about taking medicines... If taken at wrong times they may have undesired effects. so better follow the doctor's timings.
• United States
18 Aug 07
Thank you for your advse I will try.
1 person likes this
@eshaan (6188)
• India
18 Aug 07
Well you can plan something like keeping it near your bed or the place where you first go when you get up like near your brush etc, so tha reminds you to take your medicines in time. Or you can take the help of some other family memeber to remind you to take it. I being an elder person and that too care-taker of all, i take the responsibility of medicines for all. Children take it hardly and as soon as they feel better hey start neglecting them.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
I have no children in the home. I have the medicine in an ottomen at the couch. I know it is a funny place but I tend to remember to take it better. It is where I sit first thing in the morning with my glass of water and last place where I am at night. I just hate to have to take it.
1 person likes this
@LAWise520 (275)
• United States
18 Aug 07
Oh, and as far as you go when it comes to forgetting. Keep them in the kitchen in an obvious place or right by your bed and take them as soon as you get up. For me, when I had to take AM meds, I would wake up, and turn to my nightstand and take the meds and then hope out of bed, get ready for school, and then go eat breakfast and leave. That way, I never forgot. I woke up, took my meds, and then went on with my day. Another way would be to set them in a doorway leading out of your room so you nearly need to step on them to get out.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
When I worked I hardly ever forgot to take them I think it is because I do not have a routine now. When I am not feeling well that makes it worse I forget more.
1 person likes this
@LAWise520 (275)
• United States
18 Aug 07
When it comes to antibiotics, i take them as long as I'm supposed to...because I know that there is a war in my body and that I need to take them even if I feel better. It needs to kill ALL the enemy, not just the big ones. But, when it comes to meds that I am to take for long periods of time, more specifically for my anxiety, I take those as I feel necessary. They help me sleep and such, so I take them as much as I deem necessary. The doc had me at 150 mg and I'm only taking 100 because that is where I feel good at. Because it's a mental thing, I can tell when I need more or less and can fix the problem in a few weeks by increasing or decreasing the amount.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
How can you stand to suffer with the anxiety while waiting for the few weeks. I would be crawling the walls or eating everything in site.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
18 Aug 07
Hah, I'll bite. I take the prescriptions to the letter if I can. And yes I'll admit, once I start feeling better I become lazy with the prescription. Then the symptoms recur and I get scolded by bones.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
It's amazing how our body tells us when we do not do what we are told if it is taking our medications as prescribled or rest as we need to. Our neice had foot surgery a few months ago and her feet are not heeling as they should guess why come one guess Oh well I tell you. she will not follow doctors orders and stay off of them.
1 person likes this
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Whenever I am given medication by my doctor, I do take it exactly as it is prescribed. I do not go against what is told of me when taking the meds. I feel it is important to make sure you do what the instructions tell you otherwise the medications may not work as well. There may have been a few times where I forgot to take my med but not very often.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
22 Aug 07
Well Sweetie with my Illness I have to what I do not agree with is what they are doing to me at the moment I have never been Ill like this for 7 weeks but because this stupid Doctor reckons I do not need a Consultant even though I have had one from Day one I am just not shifting the Infections in my lungs 5 different Antibiotics I have been on now High Strength and all that is happening now is that my Body is retaliating and making me sicker And they say Doctors know best? I don't think so
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
26 Aug 07
They have taken me of the Antibiotics as it was not an Infection I have a Virus lodged in my Lungs and the only way to treat that is by taking Inhalers more then normal, Pain killers and rest lol So I am glad I am of them and I feel a lot better being of them to Hugs to you Sweetie
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Aug 07
Have they done any postural drainage or purcussion? If you have had it you would know what I am taking about. If you have any questions you can email me and I can explain it to you. postural drainage you can do on your own purcussion you need help.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Aug 07
If you do not respond soon I think you might have to be hospitalized. I hope not. I am praying for you love.
1 person likes this
@RobinJ (2501)
• Canada
21 Aug 07
I am prescribed 3 medications and I take them all at the same time of day, or rather at bed time. At one time they were spread out over the day, but I also forgot to take them so we worked it out that taking at bedtime didn't seen to make me ill, one can make me nauseous, the other one makes me dozy, and the other one I have no side effects at all. It is important that I remember them and I have a med case to remind me as some times I can't remember if I have taken them or not, so now no doubleing up or forgotten meds
• United States
21 Aug 07
It sounds like you and your doctor has things worked out that is the easiest for you I am glad.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
18 Aug 07
I don't take any medicines prescribed or otherwise except a daily asprin to keep my blood thin. I do sometimes forget to take it too. AT PEACE WITHIN
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I never said I was healthy :) I have diabetes and high blood pressure and am supposed to take med's for them but I'm stubborn and won't. AT PEACE WITHIN
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
I wish I did not have to take daily meds. I wish I was healthy and could still be working
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 07
Every Monday I fill up my 7 day pill box. I keep the box next to my chair. Where I always sit in the LR. First thing in the AM I get a glass of water, take my morning pills,leave the evening pills in the box and later with dinner I take the evening pills. It doesn't take long to become a habit. If you need to have a family member help you remember, do so or get an alarm clock to help. Not taking your meds properly can make your conditions worse.
• United States
19 Aug 07
You are right, and I have a daily pill holder. I have done that at times. I guess I need to go back to using that again.
1 person likes this
@tinybop (113)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I also have a pill I need to take an hour before I eat or 2 hours after I eat, so I usually take it in the morning before breakfast, the only problem is I usually won't eat breakfast cause I have to wait, or I will forget to take it if I have to get up and leave right away.
2 people like this