Prescription drugs are supposed to make our lives better. However, if not properly used, these life-savers can become silent killers. Follow these 10 vital tips for safe prescription drug use.

1. Tell Your Doctor & Pharmacist What Else You’re Taking: Harmful drug interactions are surprisingly common, and extremely dangerous. Before going to the doctor’s or a pharmacy, make a list of all the drugs and supplements you’re currently taking and present this list to your health care provider. It just might save your life.

2. Review the Side Effects: Before popping that first pill, take a few minutes to read the warning labels provided with every prescription. These warnings are there for a reason.

3. Don’t Take Drug Given by Others: Well meaning friends and family members may think they know what you need, but don’t trust a drug given to you by anyone besides your pharmacist.

4. Get Your Pharmacist’ Advice: Recently while filling a prescription for an anti-dandruff shampoo, my pharmacist gave me a tip. “Don’t just rinse it out of your hair in the shower,” he said, “Apply it after a shower and let it soak in your scalp.” I took his advice and couldn’t believe the difference it made. The drug went from being slightly effective to 100% effective. It’s easy to forget that Pharmacists do much more than dish pills. They often pass on valuable information that your doctor doesn’t know.

5. Scratch the Alcohol: Don’t drink alcohol while taking a prescription or over the counter drug. Alcohol tends to exacerbate the side effects, especially drowsiness.
6. Don’t Use Expired Drugs: It’s tempting to keep drugs beyond their expiration date in order to save money. Make it a habit to go through your medicine cabinet on a regular basis to purge expired drugs. If you make this a habit when you’re well, you’ll never be tempted to take an expired drug when you’re ill.

7. Don’t Divide Doses: It’s tempting to save money by dividing doses. However, some drugs are intended to be taken whole, and can have serious side effects if split or crushed.

8. Store Drugs Properly: Always store drugs in a cool, dark, and dry place. Avoid using bathroom cabinets which are prone to moisture.
9. Dispose of Drugs Properly: In the past, experts have recommended flushing drugs down the toilet in order to prevent scavenging in the trash. However, recent environmental evidence suggests this isn’t a good idea. Instead, consider concealing old drugs in a bag of coffee grounds or something that wouldn’t be rummaged through.

10. Ask your Doctor if You Really Need that Drug: We sometimes get into habits without thinking. Quite possibly that drug you’ve been taking for years isn’t needed anymore, and could have long term side effects. Consider talking with your doctor about your regiment, and possibly phasing out a drug that isn’t required. Keep in mind you should NOT go off any drug without first talking to your doctor.

You may have heard about sting operations that shut down online pharmacies. Does this mean that all online pharmacies are illegal? No, it doesn’t mean that at all. It means that you need to take precautions when using an online pharmacy to make sure that you aren’t breaking the law.

The first step is to make sure that the online pharmacy that you use is actually licensed in the United States - and don’t just take their word for it. You can check for licensing through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. A licensed pharmacy will display the seal of the organization on their website, but again, don’t take the sites word for it. Check directly with the licensing board. You can do this online. Also check for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites, or VIPPS.

Only get prescriptions that are issued to you by your doctor - not an online doctor, or a doctor provided by the online pharmacy. No other doctor knows your health condition, or what other medications you may be taking. The online pharmacy should have a licensed, registered pharmacist on staff, and you should be able to call this pharmacist and speak with him or her directly. If this isn’t possible, choose a different pharmacy.

If you come across a website that claims that it can issue you prescription medication - or a prescription for such medication, you should note that this is most likely an illegitimate site, and it is operating outside of United States Law. Furthermore, if you use the site, you are also breaking the law, and you could be arrested, fined, or imprisoned for doing so.

When you receive your medication, take the time to examine everything before taking the medication. Is the package sealed properly? Do the package and the medication bottle have your name on it? Is the name of the medication and the dosage correct, as well as the instructions for using the medication? Is there an expiration date listed? Is there printed information with the medication, for warnings and precautions? Use the internet and look up the medication that was prescribed to you from the drug maker’s website. Does the pill match the picture of the pill on the website?

If you have any questions or concerns about prescription drugs ordered from an online pharmacy, take the medication to your doctor or a local pharmacist for clarification before you take it. It’s always better to be over cautious than to be sorry for not being cautious enough.