Nearly everyone in my family struggles with taking prescription medications. Diabetes is a huge problem in the Latino community, so nearly everyone is on some type of medication to help control that. High blood pressure effects many members of mi familia. These are huge issues throughout the entire Latino community.
Mi abuela had diabetes and high blood pressure, having to take a handful of medication each day. It was hard for her to keep up with, but she knew she had to take them to get back on track. I think I blame the amazing Mexican food for a lot of these issues. How can you say no to a nice,warm, fresh tortilla?
Taking these types of medications can get expensive. Many Latinos do not have health insurance, so how do you
save on your prescriptions to ensure you are taking care of yourself? There are so many options to save money on prescription medications! Many stores, including Walmart and Target offer a 30-day supply of many generic drugs for around $4 or a 90-day supply is around $10. Other stores offer discount cards to help you save 10-25% off the price of prescriptions. The best thing you can do it talk to your pharmacist and see what they think is the best option for you.
Having a good relationship with your pharmacist. They can answer any questions you have about your prescription or side effects that you might be experiencing. Never be scared to ask a pharmacist about something that you feel isn’t right while taking a drug. If you are having abnormal headaches, dizziness, etc. your pharmacist should know so they can evaluate the situation and see if that medication is right for you.
When starting a new prescription, there are six important questions you should always ask your pharmacist:
- Why should I take this drug? You want to be sure you understand exactly what it is your drug will be helping you with.
- Is the drug safe for me? You want to ensure the drug is safe when combined with the other medications you might be taking.
- How should I take it? Some pills should be taken with food or on an empty stomach or so many other scenarios. Make sure you know when and how many pills you should take.
- How long should I take it?
- What are the side effects? It is very important to know if there are side effects. You want to know if you start to feel out of the ordinary, that this is a side effect or a possible complication.
- Is there a generic? Buying a generic form of the drug can help you save money. Always ask if there is a generic!
This campaign has been funded by LATISM to help educate latinos on pescription drugs.
About Amber
Its good to see the list of what to ask….so often medicine is pushed on people who think there is no other option!