Medication, use
Feature: Anti-clotting medication
Many people who have had a heart attack or stroke, for example, take anti-clotting medication to prevent blood clots from forming and to lower the risk of complications. How does blood clot? When do blood clots become dangerous? What are anticoagulants? And can other drugs change the effect of anti-clotting medication? – You can find the answers to these and other questions here.
Feature: Medications - dosage forms
Many different medications are taken orally. While some active ingredients already enter the bloodstream through the the mucous membranes lining the inside of the mouth, for most others this does not happen until they reach the stomach or bowel. For medications to reach their target in the body, they are available in different dosage forms. Read more about this in our feature.
Feature: Taking long-term medication
It can be hard to keep track of everything if you have to take several medications for long-term conditions like diabetes or heart disease. What can make it easier to take medications regularly for a long period of time? You can find information about this in our fact sheet. We have also prepared a chart that you can print out and use to make a list of all the medicines you are taking.
Feature: Using antibiotics
Did you know that most respiratory illnesses like the flu, or a simple cough or stuffy nose, are caused by viruses? And that antibiotics will not help in most cases because they only fight against bacteria? Using antibiotics when you have a viral infection is not only ineffective, it can also be harmful. Find out more here about what adverse effects this can have, as well as how the incorrect use of antibiotics can make bacteria more resistant.
