The number one complaint most doctors have is non-compliant patients. Are you guilty? Take the test to find out. Then read why you may be hurting yourself more than anyone else.

1. Do you take all medications your doctor ordered?
2. Do you take your medications the way ordered? With meals? Three times or whatever a day?
3. Do you take medication until all is taken or just until when you start feeling better?
4. Do you stop medicine because you didn't like the way it made you feel? Did you discuss that with your doctor or pharmacist first?
5. Did you let your doctor know what all you take daily before he prescribed your medication? Vitamins? Cold medication? Aspirin or ibuprofen?
6. Did you discuss your personal habits such as drinking or smoking?
7. Did you mention how much you eat out if he's treating you for high blood pressure?
8. Did you mention your pot of coffee or tea a day habit? Caffeine does affect a lot of conditions and medications.
9. Did you mention recent unusual events you have done? Camping - Water Rafting - Hunting - Sports
10. Did you mention any unusual stress events in your life? Death in family - birth of baby - child leaving home - marriage in family - break up - being fired - retired - menopause

1. Some medications cause side effects which need other medicines to counter - Example: Diuretics cause potassium deficiency - therefore the potassium prescription you received to counter the deficiency.
2. Some medications cause stomach upset so food in stomach cuts back on upset. Some medications need water to work better.
3. Amazingly, you take medication and start to feel better, then stop; the reason: you're feeling better. Now germs are still present and they can build a defense for medication so it won't work again. Back to doctor for another medication until nothing works. Please take it all.
4. Some medications do make you feel bad but are doing the job. Discuss this with your doctor - he may have alternatives.
5. Some medicines are blood thinners so doctor needs to know if you take aspirin often. Some other medications have cold remedy effects so you could be taking too much.
6. Some medications react - either strengthening or weakening with alcohol or cigarettes.
7. A lot restaurant foods are high in sodium and fat. If a lot of your daily intake of food comes from eating out, this can majorly impact your health.
8. Caffeine does affect a lot of conditions and medications. Coffee, tea, and most sodas are all high in caffeine. Caffeine can affect the heart, can cause muscle (leg) spasms, and can affect sleep patterns. Personally, I try to shut off all caffeine sources after 2 pm to rest well at night.
9. A lot of times people will notice new conditions 1-2 weeks after going to the lake. Rashes, diarrhea, or unusual soreness are some common complaints. These can usually be traced back to these trips.
10. Stress can bring all kinds of medical conditions to the surface. Anxiety, short temper, headaches, muscle soreness, racing heart, and sleeplessness, are all common stress symptoms.

This is just a very short insight into what your doctor needs to know before treating you. Please make your next office visit more satisfactory for you and your doctor. And I believe it goes without saying any illegal drug usage will affect your health and medication outcomes. So please be honest with yourself and your doctor about everything. Here's to you and best health.

List out a short medical history for your doctor ahead of time of visit to bring him up to date on you - take it on your next visit.

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1.) Get your prescription bottle from your old pharmacy
2.) Give us a call at (972) 264-0268
3.) Tell either Gary or one of our technicians:
          Your name
          Your phone number
          Your old pharmacy name and their phone number
          The prescription number or numbers
          Your doctor's name (and their phone number is great, too)
4.) Any insurance information
5.) We'll handle the rest

You can also just bring in your prescription bottle in to us.