Articles written by Lana Bell
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Promise yourself to take medicine as directed
In my last column, I’m going to invite you to take a pledge. The goal for this year of columns was to share that it’s harder than it looks to take medicine correctly (75 percent of Americans don...
Driving? What about your medications?
In the past few years, more than one older Alaskan has been in the news for a driving accident while medicated — with tragic or near-tragic consequences. An 82-year-old man was driving his...
Aging changes how your body absorbs medications
We’ve talked before about how our bodies process medications, alcohol and other substances differently as we age. So … what do we need to do with this information? Here are a few strategies to...
Tips to help you manage your medications
Reliably taking medications at the right time in the right way (with food, or an hour before eating, etc.) can be a serious chore. Here are a few common problems and tips. Remembering whether you took...
Generics: As good as name-brand drugs? Yes
As a Valentines’ Day present to yourself, you might ask your doctor if any of your prescriptions are coming available as generics. 2015 is slated to be a big year for popular name-brand drugs to...
Making sure you can afford your prescriptions
If affording your prescriptions is a challenge, please don’t turn to ‘cost-cutting’ measures like going without, or maybe taking one pill a day instead of two, or splitting your pills and only...
Ensure your medicine first does no harm
Medicine helps us tremendously, but occasionally we experience negative side effects, allergic reactions or other problems. Sometimes they’re quite serious. It’s important to be aware of...
Food, drinks, supplements interact with medications
November is Thanksgiving month, a time when we reflect on our blessings and often celebrate them with food and drink — so it is also a good month to think about the tricks your food and drink can...
When it comes to medication, know your 'rights'
Do you respect the “rights” of your medications? By that I mean taking the • right medication, at the • right dose, at the • right time, in the • right way. If you read the first column...
Questions you should ask about your prescriptions
You may be able to take fewer medicines and pay less for the ones you do take by simply asking questions. Many people figure they are prescribed a medication for a good reason, and don’t ask why. Bu...
Don't let a key health care team member be under-used
So who would you consider the most important member of your health care team? Your primary care doctor? Your specialist? Your pharmacist? In a crucial way, you are the most important member of your...
Medicine mistakes are common, can be serious
Most Americans – 75 percent! – don't take their medicine as directed. Forgetting pills, taking them at the wrong time of the day, not filling a prescription because of cost or inconvenience ...
