When you take more than one medication at the same time, they can sometimes affect each other. If that occurs, it is called an interaction. Medications can interact in many different ways. For instance, medication interactions can:
- Change how the medication is absorbed by your stomach and intestines
- Increase or decrease the amount of another medication in your body
- Boost the effects of another medication or stop it from working
- Make another medication’s side effect more likely or more dangerous
Some interactions can be minor, but others can be serious or even life-threatening. Here are a few ways you can help decrease your risk for medication interactions:
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist about your health conditions and all the medication you take. This includes prescription and nonprescription, or over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and any supplements or herbal products.
- Read the information that comes with your medication to learn about any drug interactions.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any tobacco, alcohol, or other drug use, because these could affect how your medication works.
Fill out the Health, Allergy & Medication questionnaire to alert us to any known drug interactions you might have.
To reach the questionnaire:
- Log in.
- Go to Benefits.
- Select Print Forms.
- Scroll to the Health, Allergy & Medication questionnaire section.
- Select the name and date of birth and click the Get Started button.
- Fill out the form online and select Submit to send it to us.