My Medicine List
The medical history wallet card is a good way for you to give your doctor information about your health. How else would a doctor know that an unconscious person is allergic to a medication that could make him or her critically ill?
Taking any over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements? Write them down on your list. They may not mix well with another medication that you are taking and your doctor will give you a different one.
If your doctor sends you to a specialist that you are seeing for first time, the specialist will want to know what medicines you’re taking. Give that doctor your list, too, in case you cannot remember the name of the medicine, how often you take it, or how much you take at a time.
Your dentist can extract useful information from the card, too, especially if treatment includes a prescription drug, such as medicine to treat a gum infection.
The list is only useful if it is up to date. List medicines as soon as you begin them, and remove those you're no longer taking. Ask your family doctor or nurse to review your list during regular checkups. When the list fills up, transfer only current information to a new one.
Keep the list in your wallet, along with your driver's license and other personal identification. You'll always know where it is, and it's the first place emergency medical personnel are likely to look it you are not able to give them information in an emergency. Put your name at the top of the list and keep it as close to your drivers license as possible so it is easy to find. Tell your family where it is, too, in case they need to find it for you during an emergency.