Steps to Better Health Toolkit: 3 Tips for Safe Use of Medicines

What to know

This Steps to Better Health fact sheet provides easy-to-read information for people with sickle cell disease (SCD) about safe use of medicines.

A man sitting at a table with a doctor with medicine.

Tips

People with sickle cell disease (SCD) are often prescribed medicines for common complications of SCD. If your provider prescribes you medicine, take the following steps:

Ask your provider about the benefits and risks of your medicine

Although medicines can have lifesaving benefits, they sometimes come with risks. It's important to learn about both before you start taking your medicine.

Illustration of a man on the phone.
Talk to your healthcare provider.

Take your medicine exactly as prescribed

It is important to take the right amount, at the right time, and in the right way. Not doing so can seriously affect your health. Talk to your provider if, for any reason, you are having trouble following your treatment plan.

Medication container.
Take your medicine exactly as prescribed.

Report any side effects of your medicine

If you are experiencing side effects from your medicine, report them to your provider so that they can treat the side effects and change your treatment plan, if needed.

Illustration of mobile health.
Report any side effects of your medicine

This information is based on ASH SCD Guidelines: Cardiopulmonary and Kidney Disease.

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