• If you have severe allergic reactions to certain medications, wear an identification bracelet with the information on it. In an emergency situation, if you are unable to communicate for yourself, the information on that bracelet could save your life.

• Read your prescription labels carefully and follow any restrictions or warnings. Understand which medications may affect or impair your physical or cognitive skills and refrain from operating dangerous machinery while you are on those medications.

Example: If a prescription says that it should be taken on an empty stomach, follow that instruction so that you can receive the maximum benefit of the medication.

Note: If you have difficulty seeing, ask if your pharmacist can use a larger print size on your prescription bottles.

• Only take the dosages that your doctor has approved. If you feel that any medication you are taking is not having its intended effect, call the prescribing physician. Ask if you can take more, or if you should be on a different type of medication.

Note: In the same respect, if you feel that a medication is working too powerfully, ask your prescribing physician before you cut back on the dosage.

• If you are having any adverse or abnormal reactions to your prescription medications, contact your physician immediately.

• Pharmacists have been known to make mistakes. Ask them to triple check it. Also, many pills have an identifier, which is either the name of the drug or a code. Check the pills yourself to see if they have an identifier, and make sure it is correct.

• If you have young children in your household, make sure that you have child-proof caps on your medicine bottles. Keep the bottles away from anyone who may not understand their use or potency.

Note: Even if you do not live with children, make sure that you place your medications in a safe location if you have children visiting you, or if you are visiting a home that has children.

• Never take another person's prescription medication. Although you may feel that you have similar symptoms, or a similar condition, you can't be certain that you won't have an adverse reaction to their medication or that dosage.

• If you are traveling, make sure that you keep a small supply of your medications in your carry-on bag or purse. If you place all of your medications in your checked luggage and the airline loses it, you could be in trouble. Not only may you miss some of your doses of medication, you will also have to call your doctor to get a new prescription called in to a pharmacy near you.

• If you do not have health insurance, or if your health insurance does not cover prescription medications, ask if you can receive a generic form of a drug. Many drugs are marketed in a generic format that can be much cheaper (and just as effective, given the fact it is made of the same ingredients) than the "brand-name" drug.