Best Of
Links
Categories
Archives
Search
Subscribe
You can’t get through life if you read all the fine print. Anyone who owns a computer (not another EULA! ) or has bought a home (endless title & mortgage paperwork) knows this. I, however, have found some fine print that works for me : the pharmacy literature that comes with prescriptions.
Seven months ago, I was about to give birth. Today I have a charming nursling. Two different doctors have prescribed medicine dangerous for my condition (pregnant or breastfeeding) in these past seven months. When it happened last week, I was given every assurance that the Rx was safe to take while breastfeeding. The pharmacy info assured me that it wasn’t. After the fact, my doctor offered her apologies. I accept them (we all make mistakes), but I don’t know that I will trust her again.
Remember: you are the best guardian of your own and your sweet baby’s health. Rx mistakes are much more likely in case of pregnancy or breastfeeding. Beware!
P.S. Did you know that some medicines that would be fine to take in your second or third trimester should not be taken right before you expect to give birth? I didn’t–until I learned it from the Rx literature I’d been prescribed immediately before my due date.
See more Works-For-Me-Wednesday ideas at Rocks in my dryer.
Comments
10 Responses to “WFMW: Reading Rx info”
Leave a Reply
When I was preggers and nursing I would always make the docs look up the Rx in their PDR before they would even write the scrip. I found that some docs didn’t really know what they were doing, so I had to make them double check! Thanks for the tip.
Well said. Sad, but true & wise.
This is one of those things that everyone probably knows about but not everyone does it. It is very important to read that information to keep you and your kids safe. Thanks for the tip.
That is a very good reminder. BTW…my Hubby DOES read all the fine print! Catches people off guard when he won’t sign anything before he reads everything.
One of the best (and cheapest) investments I’ve made is the annually updated The Pill Book published by Bantam. I found it in my local drug store. It lists most prescription drugs and gives complete information about them in layman’s terms. Great book.
Brandy of The Building Brows
I read all that prescription information, too, even without being pregnant or nursing. I was given a prescription for something recently that stated those allergic to sulfa drugs shouldn’t take it, and I am. My dr. has that info. in my charts but somehow missed it.
On the other hand, sometimes I have scared myself out of taking prescription drugs because of the dire warnings. I’m on an antibiotic now because of some dental work, and the prescription information had some serious warnings that I haven’t had a problem with. Yet I would not have taken it, because of those warnings, except for the high risk of infection and subsequent problems.
So I guess some degree of balance is in order: watch out for things harmful to pregnancy or nursing infants, or drug interactions, etc., but don’t let all the remote possibilities of side effects keep you from taking something you need.
Good advise!
http://tonsofsons.wordpress.com/
Good for you for being on top of things.
Wow, thank you! I didn’t know that!
Blessings!
GREAT tip! I always double-check everything with the pharmacist!