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\nHead of Outpatient Pharmacy at Sidra Medicine, Amal Aburamadan<\/p>\n
Doha: Many patients assume that taking medication is as simple as swallowing a pill \u2014 but pharmacists at Sidra Medicine are reminding the people that how medications are taken and stored can significantly impact their effectiveness and safety.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Head of Outpatient Pharmacy at Sidra Medicine, Amal Aburamadan speaking to The Peninsula stressed the importance of following professional advice when using medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery medication works differently,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s critical to follow the instructions provided by your doctor or pharmacist.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Optimal efficacy of medications and supplements often depends on timing and administration guidelines.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nHead of Outpatient Pharmacy at Sidra Medicine, Amal Aburamadan<\/p>\n
\u201cSome should be taken with food for better absorption, while others are most effective on an empty stomach,\u201d said Amal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When it comes to missed doses, she advises patients to act promptly \u2014 but wisely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it\u2019s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one. Doubling up can be harmful,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Improper storage is a common but often overlooked issue. \u201cAll medications should generally be stored in a cool, dry place and kept away from sunlight,\u201d said Amal.<\/p>\n
\u201cHumidity and heat can degrade the medicine, making it less effective or even unsafe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Amal also addressed travel concerns, especially when crossing time zones or going through airports. She advised travelers to always keep medications in their original labeled containers and to carry a copy of the prescription.<\/p>\n
Medications should be packed in carry-on luggage rather than checked baggage to avoid loss or exposure to extreme temperatures.<\/p>\n
For cold chain medications, she recommended using an ice box and requesting flight attendants to replace ice packs when necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She also emphasized the importance of adjusting dosing schedules according to the destination\u2019s time zone and checking airline and country-specific regulations in advance to avoid any complications during travel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Can tablets be split or crushed to make them easier to swallow? <\/p>\n
Amal says not always.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAltering tablets can affect how they\u2019re absorbed in your body. Some medicines are coated or have a timed-release, and breaking them can reduce their effectiveness or cause side effects. \u00a0Always consult your pharmacist before doing so.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many people underestimate the risks of mixing medications.<\/p>\n
Amal stresses that drug interactions can happen not only between prescribed medicines but also with food, supplements, and over-the-counter products.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEven common supplements or herbal teas may affect how your medication works,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s important to inform your healthcare provider about everything you\u2019re taking.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Amal firmly advised that individuals should never wait out a side effect. Instead, they should contact their pharmacist or doctor immediately, as some side effects can be warning signs of serious reactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If a person accidentally takes more than the recommended dose of medication, she advises immediate action: \u201cSeek medical attention right away. Call emergency services or the poison control center \u2014 do not wait for symptoms to appear,\u201d she said, referencing Sidra Medicine\u2019s emergency guidance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How long should someone wait before deciding that a medication isn\u2019t working?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is no improvement after 2 to 4 weeks \u2014 depending on the condition and the medication \u2014 consult your doctor. Don\u2019t stop or switch medicines on your own,\u201d Amal advised.\u00a0
\nAmal encourages all patients to ask questions and stay informed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPharmacists are here to help,\u201d Amal said. \u201cYour safety and health depend on using medications the right way \u2014 from how you take them, to how you store and travel with them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Doha: Many patients assume that taking medication is as simple as swallowing a pill \u2014 but pharmacists at…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16104,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[64,63,137,490,16260,17531],"class_list":{"0":"post-16103","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-medication","12":"tag-qatar","13":"tag-the-peninsula"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16103\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}