Prescription Medications

Prescription Medications and Pregnancy

Prescription medication is often a confusing, complicated and expensive aspect of modern medical care, and never is this more true than during a pregnancy. A developing fetus can be irreparably harmed by many prescription medications beneficial to the mother under other circumstances. Medical care providers are responsible for knowing how prescription medications interact with one another, and how pregnancy will effect this interaction. Many medications can harm a baby by themselves or when combined with other medications. Medical care providers and pharmacists should know what medications are safe for you to use during your pregnancy, but they can make mistakes that may cause a birth defect or other birth injury. You should be familiar with how to read prescriptions, and how to safely take them while you are pregnant.

Prescriptions written by harried physicians are often almost illegible. To compound the confusion most patients experience while attempting to read the prescriptions their physician hands them, many instructions and directions are also written in a shorthand based on Latin words and phrases. Using Latin to describe medical instructions and procedures is an almost universal practice used to allow trained medical professionals to communicate with one another without language barriers. This can be very confusing for patients who do not speak Latin, and who would not understand the abbreviations used by physicians even if they did. If you are unsure of the meaning of the prescription your physician hands you, ask for clarification.

Always exercise extreme caution when taking medications while pregnant. Make sure both your doctor and your pharmacist know of your pregnancy as well as any other medications you may be taking. If your doctor and Pharmacist are unaware of your condition, they cannot be held accountable if a prescribed medication or medication combination harms your unborn child. You are legally responsible for disclosing this information to your medical caretakers, if you are aware of the pregnancy. If you are seeing more than one physician, make sure your medical records are transferred so that they are aware of any complications, medicinal conflicts, or potential dangers to you and your child. You should always insist that any secondary car givers speak to your primary care physician and view your medical charts and records before prescribing medication or treating any condition.

Be aware of what medications you are taking and why. If you are taking many medications at once, be sure to keep a detailed list easily accessible that you can provide to any medical professional who is treating you. If you feel that you are having an adverse reaction to a medication or medication combination, notify your physician immediately. If the medications that you are taking do not seem to be working in the intended way, this is also a reason to contact the prescribing physician immediately. Take all medications as directed. Never deviate from medical instructions when taking any medication. Do not ever take medication prescribed to another person, or after it has expired. Keep all medications out of the reach of children and in clearly labeled bottles, to avoid misuse or mistaken use.

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