Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Health Ministry

April 2006

Brown Bag Your Way to Your Physician's Office

Recently, a major U.S. health insurer encouraged their policyholders to start brown bagging. It seemed a strange request at first, but it was a request that alerted many to possible problems with their medications. The health insurer was conducting an informal study in which they encouraged policy holders to place all of their medications in a brown paper bag (prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, nutritional supplements) and to take them to their next medical visit for review by their health care provider. Surprisingly, many found that the contents of their brown paper bags often interacted in harmful ways.

The Health Ministry encourages members of Good Shepherd to brown-bag it to their next check-up to ensure that your medications (whether prescribed by your health care provider or supplements that are self-prescribed) are benefiting you in the manner that they should. During the month of April, stop by the Health Ministry bulletin board and pick up your brown paper bag in which you can collect your current medications for your next medical visit. Also, there will be important tips on the board regarding the safe administration of medications.

Here are a few tips to encourage the safe administration of medications:

• When receiving a prescription for a new medication, tell your physician and/or pharmacist about any other medications (prescribed, over-the-counter, herbal or nutritional supplements) you are taking

• When receiving a prescription for a new medication, before leaving the physician office and/or pharmacy, make sure you have received clear instruction on how to take your new medication (including any foods/beverages you should avoid)

• Always remember to alert your physician and/or pharmacist to allergies and major medical conditions that you may have

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