Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Healthwatch, we've been talking about health issues that hit close to home. There's one issue that's as close as your bathroom medicine cabinet: prescription and nonprescription medication. While over-the-counter medications are generally safe when used as directed, they can cause harm when mixed with certain other medications.
Dr. Craig Rubin, a geriatric medicine specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says that's why you should tell your doctor about all medicines you're taking, prescription or otherwise. This is especially important for seniors, who may be seeing multiple doctors. Also ask your doctor about over-the-counter medicines you should avoid while taking prescription drugs. You may counteract the effects or have serious complications when you mix certain drugs.
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August 2005
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