Medications can include prescribed drugs, over the counter drugs, creams, lotions, inhalers, vitamins, supplements, and herbs.
Tips & Links
If you have a new diagnosis or are experiencing changes in your health, it is important to be aware of what medications and over the counter drugs you are taking, how they may impact your health and potential side effects.
Learn About
- Research information on each of your medications including side effects and any interactions with other medications you are taking from Healthlink BC.
- Be aware how your medications, vitamins, supplements, herbs, alcohol use, and recreational drug use might interact.
- Know what each medication is for and how it works. You can get pharmacy handouts for each of your medications from your pharmacist.
- Learn tips about how to safely take and manage your medications from Health Quality BC.
- Learn about the different services offered by a pharmacist including prescription adjustments and renewals, giving injections (vaccinations and other), dispensing contraception, assessing minor ailments or concerns, and providing medication reviews. Learn more details from the Government of BC.
- Know that you can talk to a pharmacist about your medication issues or concerns by dialling 811 at Healthlink BC.
Things To Do
- Keep an updated medication list in your health profile including prescribed drugs, over the counter (OTC) drugs, creams, lotions, inhalers, vitamins, supplements, and herbs.
- Write down why you take your medications, how long you have been taking them, and any side effects, you might have experienced.
- Ask your pharmacist for pharmacy handouts for each of your medications to keep in your Mywell Health Planner.
- Learn about what medications are covered or not by Fair PharmaCare from the Government of BC. You can ask your physician if the drug being prescribed is covered by your insurance.
- Learn how to register for and collect a list of your past and present medications from Health GatewayBC.
- Review your complete medication list every year with your pharmacist, physician, or nurse practitioner, including all over the counter drugs, supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
- Know that medications can be costly. Review your pharmaCare coverage and health benefits plan to determine your yearly costs for medications and include in your financial plan.
Your Mywell Health binder is a place to store all your pharmacy handouts. You can save your updated Medication List PDF to your phone so you have it with you when you need it.