During a hospitalization, some of your medications may be discontinued, dosages may be changed, and you may be put on other medications. You need to keep a current list of your medications as they change so that you know exactly what you are supposed to be taking once you return to your home.

For each medication you can list:

(1) the name,

(2) dosage,

(3) the color and size of the pill,

(4) how many times a day to take it,

(5) when it was first prescribed and

(6) why it is prescribed.

Also note all pharmacies you use to fill prescriptions.

Without a method for tracking your medications before and after a hospitalization, you run the risk of over-medicating, under-medicating, or having ineffective combinations of medications.

There are computer programs that medical staff can use to check for drug interactions and recommended dosages. For example, it could be that you were prescribed the correct medication, but the dosage was incorrect. Or a medication can be appropriate, but not when combined with another medication.

In addition to having a doctor or pharmacist check for drug interactions, you can also check for yourself on the internet. There are many free sites that allow you to list your medications and dosages, and see if there are any interactions or warnings. You may want to use the internet yourself to see how your medications are affected by alcohol, tobacco and certain foods. Use the search terms "free medication interaction checker" and "medication and food interaction checker" to get you started.

There are specific questions you can ask about each medication at the time it is prescribed. Some of the questions you want to ask include what side effects to expect, how to handle a missed dose or an accidental extra dose. Find out if there is any required monitoring or testing while on the medication, and what, if any, food, drink, or activities should be avoided while on the medication (such as dairy products, alcohol, driving, exposure to sun, etc.). Should the medication be taken with food or water?

Some medications have an immediate efffect and some take time for you to notice a difference. You can ask when it will likely begin working and how you will know if the medication is doing what it is supposed to do for you. You can ask your doctor if there is a generic formula or a less expensive medication that will reach the same results for you.

It is good to ask how long you will be on a particular medicine. Also, please remember that you should only stop taking a medication when the prescription runs out and the doctor does not authorize any refills. Do not stop taking it merely because you are feeling well. You may only be feeling well because you are on the medication, and stopping it could be dangerous to your health.

In summary, it is best to be informed and to keep your doctors informed of all medications that are prescribed for you prior to, during, and after you are released from the hospital. It is quite common to have discrepancies between your "before" and "after" hospitalization medication lists. Check to see that no medication has been accidentally deleted from your list. Remember, if any of your medications change, make sure you always update your list and note the date of the change.