Using Medicine Wisely

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 24, 1999 / 3:59 PM EST / CBS

Last year, Americans spent $16 billion on over-the-counter medicines and filled almost 2.5 billion prescriptions. Medicine can make you feel better, but only if you use it the right way. CBS News Saturday Morning Health Correspondent Dr. Emily Senay has some tips for using medication properly.

Despite its name, the medicine cabinet isn't the best place to store medicine. The problem is, that cabinet is in the bathroom where it gets humid, and humidity can cause medicine to break down. Drugs are better off being stored in a cool, dry place.

There are ways to tell if medicine has gone bad. First, check the expiration date. If the date has expired, flush the medicine down the toilet or take it back to the pharmacy so that children can't get their hands on it.

Besides checking the expiration date look for the following:

Capsules that are sticky.
Cough syrup that has changed color.
Vitamins that are crumbly.
Aspirin that smells like vinegar.

Any of these symptoms are reason enough to discard the medication.

Here are some other good practices to follow regarding medication:

Make sure your doctor knows about every medication you are taking. Put them all in a bag and take them in to the doctor's office. These should include any topical agents, nasal sprays, prescription medications, herbal remedies, and over-the-counter medication you take consistently. If you see more than one doctor, every one of them has to know what the others have prescribed.

Some foods react with certain drugs. Senay said grapefruit juice, in particular, can cause problems.

Also, understand the orange warning stickers on your prescriptions:

Take with food means you should eat something, even if it's only crackers or bread, when you take it. It does not mean you need to eat a full meal.
Take medication on an empty stomach. Drink a full glass of water before and after taking the medicine to help it dissolve in your stomach.
Avoid excessive sunlight means keep yourself out of the sun, not the drug. Some drugs will make your skin extra sensitive to the sun. If you see this warning on a label, put on a hat and wear sunglasses. Don't go sunbathing. You could wind up with a rash.
Do not drink alcohol means just that. Even foods that contain alcohol should be avoided.

To get specific information about a particular drug, check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site.