{"id":5985,"date":"2019-09-25T13:41:36","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T17:41:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=5985"},"modified":"2022-07-12T12:57:43","modified_gmt":"2022-07-12T16:57:43","slug":"medication-management-for-people-with-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-management-for-people-with-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Medication management for people with disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even when people want to do everything they can for their health, there can be barriers that get in the way. <\/span>One in every four U.S. adults has a disability<\/span><\/a>, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of those with a disability, some may also be dealing with other medical conditions, such as diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diabetes may be just one of the chronic conditions someone with a disability may have, and it\u2019s likely that medication is necessary for preventing complications and improving health outcomes. This guide is designed to help people with disabilities work with their healthcare provider to navigate the medications and make the right decisions for a healthy lifestyle. With the right approach to medication management, people with disabilities can be empowered to get the most benefit from their prescriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why this guide<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Medicine only works if you take it. It can sometimes be difficult to keep track of several medications that are being taken for different conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have any questions or concerns about medications, you should always speak with your healthcare team first. Avoid skipping your medication, <\/span>changing your medication dose, or changing your medication schedule. <\/span>This guide is designed to provide you with more information about medication management <\/span>and empower you to work with your provider to get the best treatment possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to read medication labels<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With any new prescription or over-the-counter medicine, it\u2019s important to take time to completely review your medication label for vital information such as the name of the drug, the strength of the drug, the dosage of the medication, and any other details you need to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"8<\/p>\n

Medication labels may differ depending on the pharmacy, but they normally have eight different types of information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Information about the pharmacy<\/b>: The name, address, and contact information for the pharmacy that filled the prescription.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Your information: <\/b>Here, you\u2019ll find the name and address of the person to whom the medicine is prescribed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Information about the prescribing doctor: <\/b>The doctor or other healthcare professional who wrote the prescription is listed here, along with their contact information in case you (or the pharmacy) have any questions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Medication name and strength:<\/b> This part of the label indicates the drug\u2019s brand name, chemical make-up, or generic name, and how strong one unit of the medication is. <\/span>The strength of the medication is the amount of drug in the given dosage form and is often measured in micrograms (mcg), milligrams (mg), or grams (g). The strength of an oral solution is measured as the weight of the drug dissolved in a certain volume of solution.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Instructions:<\/b> Read these instructions carefully to learn how to take your medication. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to ask your pharmacy or your doctor. Medication instructions usually say how to take your medicine, how often, and when. For instance, your instructions may say, \u201ctake one tablet by mouth twice a day in the morning and at night\u201d or \u201capply to the affected area as needed up to five times per day.\u201d <\/span>There may also be additional precautions or important details on how to take the drug.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Prescription information: <\/b>Additional information such as the date your prescription was filled at the pharmacy, the number of pills or doses provided, how many refills you have left for your prescription, the medication\u2019s expiration date, and an identification number your pharmacy assigned to your prescription is often included on the label..\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Drug manufacturer information: <\/b>This information shows the name of the company that manufactured the medication and a physical description of the medication\u2019s dosage form, such as a tablet, capsule, injectable solution, cream, or nasal spray.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Federal warning statement: <\/b>This is a cautionary statement that may read as, \u201cCaution: Federal law prohibits the transfer of this drug to any person other than the patient for whom it was prescribed.\u201d Keep in mind that you should never take someone else\u2019s prescription medication, even if it\u2019s been prescribed to you before. It\u2019s not safe to take a medicine that\u2019s not prescribed to you, as doing so may put your health at risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Over-the-counter medication labels, called drug facts labels, are different from prescription labels as they\u2019re not specific to any one person. Instead, they provide information for the general public. What\u2019s on these labels is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so drug facts labels generally look pretty similar to one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Over-The-Counter<\/p>\n