What you should know if you take prescription medicines

Medicine do's

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Store medicine away from heat, light and humidity.
Refill your prescriptions before they run out.
Tell each doctor, dentist and health care team member about all the medicines you are taking.
Ask your pharmacist for an easy-open cap if there are no children in your home.
Take all your medicine — don’t stop early.
Check with your health care team about complementary medicines that you are using or want to start using. These include herbs, minerals, dietary supplements and natural products.
Bring all medicines with you to each doctor’s appointment.

Don't take medicines prescribed for anyone else.
Don't substitute one medicine for another.
Don't refrigerate your medicines unless you are told to do so.
Don't store medicine in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink. (Humidity can affect medicine.)
Don't keep outdated medicine.
Don't get caught without your medicine when you leave home or go on vacation.
Don't mix different pills in the same bottle — it can lead to mix-ups.
Don't skip a dose and don’t take more than your prescribed dose.