For a medicine to be taken safely and work as intended, the patient must take the right medicine, the right dose, the right way and at the right time.   

1. Right Patient 

• Ask your doctor or your pharmacist before taking medicine.  They can help you.  The pharmacist will refer you to your doctor if required.

• A medicine that is good for you may be bad for someone else, even if the symptoms are similar. Do not share medicines or recommend your medicine to your friends and family – they should see their own doctor or pharmacist for advice.  

2. Right Medicine  

• Read the label to make sure you are taking the medicine correctly.

• When purchasing a medicine you have the right to ask to ask for information about your medicine and to participate in the choice of your treatment.

• You may ask what different alternative product there are for what you were prescribed/ given and information about them, including the costs.

• Read the ingredients list and be aware whether there are any medicines or ingredients to which you are allergic/ intolerant.

• Know if the medicine will interact with food or other medicines.  Do not take different medicines without seeking advice first. If you take two medicines containing the same ingredient, you could be taking an overdose. Some medicines can react with others to produce unpleasant side effects, and some medicines can block the actions of others if taken together, and actually stop them from working. Before taking your new medicine home, make sure you consult your doctor or pharmacist and inform him/her if you are taking any other medicine.

• When refilling prescription, make sure that the medicine is the same as before. If it does not, ask why it is different.

• Know the name of all the medicines prescribed to you.  It is a good idea to write them down for future reference.  

• Know why you are taking the medicines. 

3. Right Dose  

• Read the instructions on the label.

• Know how many tablets or doses should be taken each day.

• Know how long the medicine should continue to be taken.

• Use a medicine measuring cup or spoon for liquid, rather than a household spoon.

• Always follow the dosage instructions to determine how much medicine to take.  Do not take more than the prescribed dose or take the medicine more often than recommended.   

4. Right Route  

• Read the label.

• Make sure you know the proper way to take / use your medicines.

• Remember that not all tablets are to be taken by swallowing them.  Know if the tablet can be chewed, crushed, dissolved, if it should be swallowed whole or if it meant to be left under your tongue. 

5. Right Time  

• Follow the label.

• Know if the medicine should be taken at a specific time of day.

• Take medicine at the same time each day.

• Ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose.  If you forget to take your medicine, do not double the next dose. Doubling up on medicine is dangerous because it may lead to negative effects of overdose.

• Do not stop a prescribed course of pills because you feel better. Antibiotics must not be stopped too soon since some of harmful bacteria may not be killed. These bacteria may become resistant to the antibiotic and may multiply and grow again thus causing a relapse of the disease.

• Do not stop a course of medicine because you are better overnight or because you believe they are not doing any good. Some medicines take time to work.