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1. Is using medications always the best course for treating illnesses, conditions or symptoms?

   No. In many instances, your healthcare professional may suggest non-drug approaches first. For example, if you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, even though there are medications that treat these conditions, your health care professional may want you to try changes in diet and an increase in exercise before putting you on a medication regime. Why? Because even though over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications have been proven safe for most people, there may be some risk in taking them.

2. Do I have to take all the medications my health care professional prescribes, even if I am feeling better?

   The answer to this question depends on the drug and how it is prescribed, so you should ask your health care professional this question before leaving her office. In the case of antibiotics, you usually need to finish all the medication, even though you may start to feel better within a day or two, to completely wipe out the bacteria. You may be instructed to take other medications, such as painkillers, "as needed." This means that if you start to feel better, you won't need to continue taking the drug. Also, drugs taken long-term for conditions such as high blood pressure may seem to make you feel worse than when you do not take them but your healthcare professional can usually prescribe a different medication that will work for you.

3. When I see my primary health care professional for a minor illness, do I need to tell him/her each and every medication a specialist has prescribed for my high blood pressure?

   Yes. Even if the illness is as minor as a cold, medications your health care professional may recommend or prescribe could have negative interactions with another medication you're taking.

4. My health care professional just prescribed some medications but wants me to come back to her office in a few days. Why can't I just call her to let her know if I'm feeling better?

   She probably wants to run some blood tests, check your blood pressure or conduct other tests to make sure either the medication is having the intended effect or is not having dangerous side effects. She may need to adjust your dose and have you come back yet again. Be patient with this process. Determining "just the right" dose for an individual is a fine science that requires teamwork between you and your health care professional.

5. I have a bunch of old medications in my medicine cabinet, from OTC decongestants to old prescriptions. Should I save them? If I ever get the same illness again, can I just use these medications?

   If they have passed their "use by" dates, you need to throw away OTCs and prescription drugs. Don't put them where children or pets could access them, such as in your bathroom wastebasket. You should also discard leftover prescription medication for an illness that has passed, even if the medication doesn't "expire" for another several months or longer. And don't try and self-diagnose. What you think is the same illness may, in fact, be something different. Talk to your health care professional.

6. My partner and I are having a disagreement: He says "take three times a day" means at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I think it means upon waking, halfway through the day, and upon going to bed. Who's right?

   Usually it doesn't matter, unless the drug should be taken with food. This is definitely a question for your health care professional or pharmacist.

7. There are so many OTC drugs, it's confusing. There must be 20 kinds of cough medicines, for example. How do I know if my coughing child needs an expectorant or a cough suppressant?

   First, if her cough-or any other symptom you are tempted to treat at home-seems severe, has persisted for more than three days, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever or difficulty breathing, you should take her to a health care professional. However, for a minor cough, your best bet would be to ask your pharmacist, who should be very knowledgeable about OTC medications. He or she can give you some good, practical advice about all those bottles and boxes you are faced with in today's mega-pharmacies.

8. I've started taking a strong antibiotic and now I have stomach upset and diarrhea. Should I stop taking the drug? Or should I take some antacids?

   You should call your health care professional and let him or her know about the side effects you are experiencing. He or she can assess their severity and counsel you on what to do. For the most part-unless the side effect is severe-you should always contact your health care professional before you stop taking a prescription drug. Also, remember the potential of drug interactions. Antacids can actually keep your body from absorbing antibiotics the way it should. If your side effect is minor enough for you to treat at home, at least ask your pharmacist which medications shouldn't be mixed with your prescription.