Take your medicines every day, as instructed, and at the same time every day.
Use tools, such as a daily or weekly pill box, to organize your medicines.
Keep your medicine containers in a place you will see them every day.
Create reminders for yourself to take your medicines. Try using a calendar, smart phone app, a digital watch, or whatever method might work for you.
Read the prescription label and printed patient information that comes with each medicine.
Do not skip pills, change doses, or take extra pills unless your doctor tells you to. The dose your doctor prescribes takes into account your age, weight, health problems, and other medicines you take.
Learn the names of how each of your medicines, how each works, and why you take it. People who understand their medicines are more likely to stay on them.
Learn what each of your medicines looks like (shape, size, color). When you get a refill, you might get a new generic version that looks different from the last time. That is OK as long as the new medicine has the same ingredient as the one it is replacing. If you are worried about a refill looking different, talk to your pharmacist.
Tell your doctor or nurse about any side effects you have. He or she might have ways to reduce or get rid of the side effects.
Tell your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you cant afford your medicines. There are often ways to reduce costs.
Make a list of all the medicines you take and keep one copy at home and one in your wallet.
Bring a bag containing ALL your medicines with you to your doctor's office. Have your doctor or nurse go over them with you.
Talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before you take any cough, cold, allergy, pain, or other extra medicines. The same goes for supplements and herbal medicines. Over-the-counter and herbal medicines can interact with prescription medicines.
Graphic 59726 Version 5.0
Type of medicine
Generic name
Sample US brand names
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)
Enalapril
Vasotec
Lisinopril
Zestril
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
Losartan
Cozaar
Candesartan
Atacand
Valsartan
Diovan
Diuretics
Furosemide
Lasix
Other blood pressure medicines
Calcium channel blockers (including diltiazem and verapamil)
Cardizem
Calan
Phosphate binders
Calcium carbonate
Many different brands and generics
Calcium acetate
PhosLo
Sevelamer
Renagel, Renvela
Lanthanum
Fosrenol
Vitamin D
Calcitriol
Rocaltrol
Erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) (These are given as shots, usually with dialysis)
Erythropoietin
Epogen, Procrit
Darbepoetin alfa
Aranesp
Graphic 86675 Version 1.0