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Know Your Medicines


What's Important to Know?

Taking your medicines as directed can greatly improve your health. But, if they aren’t taken as directed, they may not work. It's important to know that medicines can interact with one another. In some cases, not taking them correctly can cause an adverse drug event (ADE). An ADE is when medicine causes harm like an allergic reaction, side effects, overmedication, and medicine errors. Some ADEs are preventable.

Tell your provider or pharmacist about all the medicines you take and how you take them. Include over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbals, supplements, and all medicine prescribed by providers in the community. Use a wallet card* to keep a list of your medicines. You can also use My HealtheVet on VA.gov and the VA Health and Benefits app to refill and track your prescriptions and see your list of medicines.

VA pharmacists can provide you with education about your medicines and make sure that they are safe for you. VA pharmacists confirm that every medicine is properly prescribed and prepared so that you can be confident you have received the proper medicine and dose.

Want to Know More?

If you want to learn more about your medicines or if you have questions or concerns about how to take the medicines you are prescribed, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.

Safe Medicine Disposal

Unused or expired medicines can lead to harm such as accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. Medicines are best disposed of through medicine take-back programs. VA facilities across the country offer ways to safely dispose of unused or expired medicines, including controlled substances. Your local VA may have free envelopes to mail unwanted medicine back. They may also have a disposal bin on-site where you can leave unwanted medicines to be safely destroyed.

Unwanted medicines can also be dropped off at some retail pharmacies, hospitals, retail stores, and law enforcement agencies registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In April and October, the DEA hosts “National Prescription Drug Take Back Days*” in communities nationwide for safe disposal of prescription medicines.

This is a great time to gather all expired or unused medicines and dispose of them safely. You can use their Collection Site Locator Tool* to find a location near you. If you must dispose of unwanted medicine at home, follow these instructions*.

VA Resources

This content was developed in partnership with VA Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM). For more information about how PBM helps Veterans achieve their best health through safe and effective use of medicine, visit their website.

Links marked with * direct to non-VA.gov websites.

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