Taking and Giving Medicines

Posted: June 1, 2005

If your doctor orders medicine for you or your child, make sure you know what it is for. Ask how often to take it, how much to take, and what side effects to tell the doctor about. Ask how to store your medicine. Here are some additional reminders:

• When you get your medicine from the drug store, make sure it is the same as what your doctor ordered for you.
• Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose of medicine.
• Take medicine exactly as the doctor said you should, for as long as you should.
• Ask if pills may be crushed and if it can be taken with food or with other pills. Measure liquid medicine with care. Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for help learning how, if you are not sure.
• If a medicine makes you or your child ill, call your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor or nurse about anything that causes you to itch, causes a rash, or makes you short of breath. You may have an allergy that could cause problems when you take medicines.
• Never use another person's medicine, even if you think the medicine is the same as yours.
• Never give your medicine to another person.
• Never take medicine from a bottle with no label.
• Keep medicines away from children. Put child safety locks on cabinet doors where any cleaning supplies medicines or chemicals are stored.
• Discard old and unused medicine. Flush it down the toilet.

Measuring: (how to get approximately equal amounts)
1 teaspoon = 5 ml or 5 cc
1 tablespoon = 15 ml or 15 cc = 1/2 fluid ounce
1 cup = 237 ml or 237 cc = 8 fluid ounces
1 quart = 960 ml or 960 cc = 32 fluid ounces
1 fluid ounce = 30 ml or 30cc

Source: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services

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