TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in Taipei County yesterday published 10 'must-knows' that many people are unaware of when taking medication.
The hospital held 50 forums on knowledge of medication, before discovering the need to promote the important tips to the public.
The hospital's Pharmacy Department disclosed the advice at a press conference.
Sun Shu-hui (孫淑慧), department chairperson, pointed out that many people keep the cotton and the desiccators in the phial after opening the bottles with the aim of keeping the bottles dry.
The act, however, actually increases the chances of moistening the medication, Sun said, adding that the cotton can absorb water in the air, whilst the desiccators commonly lose their function as soon as the phial is open.
Sun reminded mothers not to mix powdered medicine with milk for young children; stating that powdered medicine should be mixed with water.
She further explained that the substances in milk would react with the medication and that the temperature of the milk would impact the quality of the drugs.
The pharmacist emphasized that medications in phials should be taken within three months and six months, and that syrup should be consumed as advised.
Sun also suggested that expiry dates on containers are no longer applicable once the containers have been opened - giving the example that patients should stop using eye-drops one month after the phial is opened.
Patients taking antibiotics should complete the course, even after symptoms have eased.
Take out the cotton and the desiccators from the container once the phial is unsealed.
Do not blend medication with milk or other beverages.
The expiry date of the container is no longer applicable once the vial is unsealed.
There is no need to stop taking antibiotics, unless adviced by doctors to do so.
Hand in the remaining medication to drug stores or hospitals for recycling, as the chemical substances in drugs could pollute water and soil.
Keep a 30-minute interval between taking medication and eating a meal when instructions say to take the prescribed drugs before a meal.
Keen an interval of 2 hours when both western and traditional Chinese medicine is taken.
Take medication for chronic illness on a regular basis as advised.
Do not recommend anybody to buy certain medicines.
Always inform your doctors of your allergies caused by any type of drugs.
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