$Unique_ID{BRK01658}
$Pretitle{Ill Defined Symptoms and Rare Diseases}
$Title{Complicated Schedule for Medications}
$Subject{medications frequency}
$Volume{N-23}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Complicated Schedule for Medications


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QUESTION:  I am getting discouraged.  Each time I visit the doctor, I get a
new schedule for my medications, and it is becoming very complicated.  With
all your knowledge, why can't doctors figure out a way that reduces the number
of times we have to take each medicine, each day?  Many of your patients
really need this type of help.

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ANSWER:  Despite all our study and searching, we still don't know it all.
There are a lot of medications that are prepared in ways to reduce the number
of times per day they must be taken.  Some tricks have been to prepare "slow
release" compounds which permit a small amount of medicine to be released at a
time over a longer period of time.  Sometimes capsules can contain larger
doses, that can than last longer.  In the final analysis, however, its the way
our bodies work, that makes once a day dosage impossible or impractical for
certain kinds of medicines.  Just as we digest food, by breaking our
nourishment down into its basic components, medications are also "digested" by
our bodies metabolic processes.  Some chemicals break down faster, and so in
order to keep enough in our system to do us some good, another pill must be
taken after a rather brief period.  Our digestive system is another problem
for oral medicines, as the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine all
function in different ways.  Thats why, when a patient is seriously ill,
medicine is administered through solutions that pass directly into the blood
stream, and thus avoid the problems of digestion.
     But don't let the problems of a complex schedule for medications stop you
from taking them on time, and when you are supposed to.  Make a schedule,
using a different color for each medicine, choosing a color that matches the
pill color, to help you keep it all straight.  If you need more help, ask for
it, from your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, or whoever is responsible for
helping you.  And keep asking until you get answers you understand.  It is the
right way to get the most from your medicines.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
