Medications

what you should know

1)how many are you taking (e.g. I'm taking 2)
2)what are they called? (e.g. zyprexa, risperdal)
     (also called olanzapine and risperidone)
     (why do drugs have 2 names?)
3)what are they for? (what do they treat?)
     (e.g. zyprexa is an antipsychotic)
     (risperidone is for anxiety, I believe)
4)dosage (e.g. 30 mg zyprexa; 2x15mg tablets)
                       (1mg risperidone; 1/2 tablet)
5)frequency (e.g. nightly)

those are the main things

but also,
6)side-effects
7)interaction-effects
  (e.g. alcohol "de-potentiates" my medications;
                       i.e. reduces the effectiveness of)
   (i'm told not to drink/take grapefruit juice, either)

and finally,
the last consideration,
people and circumstances change,
so you shouldn't be wedded to a (set of) prescription(s):
   (adjustments are sometimes necessary/better/helpful)

some people can self-medicate
but doctors are supposed to know their shit