The Factors Doctors Should Keep in Mind before Providing Prescription
66% of adults in the United States are medicated. Most people aren't aware of the details a doctor utilizes to decide on the right prescription and dosage. You must choose the appropriate drug for your illness, time, and dosage for your body, all while considering other therapies or underlying conditions that could lead to negative effects. This is an ongoing process that you must go through. To put it another way, prescribing medications is a difficult process. See the factors that should be kept in mind when doctors dispensing medication in office starts.
The six most important factors to consider when prescribing medications
Before sending a prescription to your pharmacy, your healthcare practitioner will review the prescribing information from the drug's package insert, as well as the following variables, to make sure the therapy and dosage are safe for you.
Measurements such as height and weight are required.
People with smaller frames tend to take fewer doses of prescription medications, therefore comparing the dosage of a smaller-framed person to a larger-framed person can be confusing. Isn't it true that the amount of a drug you take is based on your weight?
There is no simple answer, however for the majority of popular drugs, a "one size fits all" strategy actually works well for adults (the dosages of many medications for children are based on weight). The FDA assigns therapeutic indices to newly approved medications before they can be sold to the general public. A proper dosage is then determined by balancing the medication's effectiveness with the risk of side effects.
The therapeutic index of many medications is large enough to accommodate a person's individual height and weight, thus most adults can take a broad amount without having any side effects at all Some drugs have a narrower therapeutic index by nature, which necessitates greater caution from prescribing doctors. When taking a blood thinner like Coumadin, for example, you may need to be monitored.
Sex
Certain medications are metabolized differently by males and women. Ambien, a popular sleeping medicine, has a recommended dosage for women that is around half that of men. While there are various possible explanations, it's most likely due to differences in gastrointestinal absorption and renal processing speed. This has an effect on the time it takes for medication to be absorbed and removed from the body, resulting in variable intervals between doses.
Age
Prescriptions are not issued based on the size of a patient's body, although this restriction only applies to adults. When it comes to drugs, children are in a class by themselves because of their smaller bodies. However, there is another group that need special attention in the doctor's office, despite the fact that they are younger.
Every doctor's dream scenario is to write a prescription, have the patient take it, and have their symptoms go away without causing them any harm. However, as we become older, the likelihood of having a negative reaction increases, making older people a distinct demographic. While older people's natural inclination to have many medical demands and hence multiple prescriptions contributes to some of the problem, normal ageing also has a role to play.
Increasing weight in the body and decreasing function of the memory, kidneys, liver and other bodily fluids and systems all have an impact on how well the body is able to handle a given prescription. All drugs and supplements taken by an elderly patient should be discussed openly in advance with his or her doctor.
Pre-existing Medical Issues
In some cases, a patient's present medical condition(s) will have an impact on the prescription a doctor recommends. The obvious ones, like expecting mothers, necessitate a little more thought when trying to figure out whether or not a medicine is right for them.
Patients with liver illness, particularly those who have jaundice or encephalopathy, are at particular risk. Because our ability to process and discard drugs depends so heavily on the liver, doctors must exercise extreme caution when prescribing medications. If you have liver problems and are worried about the side effects of your drugs, talk to your doctor. If your doctors are dispensing medication in office, it can help you.
Interactions between Medications
Chronically ill patients must be extremely watchful of drug interactions, and your doctor should be fully informed of the dangers. Before starting any new prescription, talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the other medications and supplements you are on, including OTC medications. This is especially important if you have diabetes. It's amazing how many meds, even the ones that seem safe, can have harmful interactions with other prescriptions.
Intolerance to Some Drugs
Some people are more sensitive than others to the side effects of certain drugs. The medical community refers to this condition as "drug intolerance," and it can make administering medications extremely difficult for doctors. Some patients have a true medication allergy, in which their immune system plays a significant role in addition to intolerance.
The Importance of Communication Cannot Be Overstated
Whether you're presently taking prescription medications or will be seeing your doctor in the near future, keep in mind that you have a say in the prescriptions that are prescribed for you. Maintaining your health requires open and honest communication, as well as setting realistic expectations.
Depending on your requirements, a variety of solutions are available, including modifying dosages, switching to or from generic drugs, or discovering alternative therapy. Consult your healthcare practitioner whenever you have questions or concerns, and never alter a medicine on your own.
Contact PD-RX Pharmaceuticals if dispensing medication in office is essential for you. Reach us at our Oklahoma office.
**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of patient-doctor relationship.