Keeping Track of Drugs You Take for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Have you ever been at the doctor's office and had a moment of thick brain fog when the nurse asked what medications you were taking? The more you take, the harder it gets to remember them all - and that can be a real problem. Now think of what could happen if you were at the emergency room, unconscious, and they gave you a drug that's dangerous when combined with your meds.

I've learned that I need to keep a complete list with me at all times, including dosages. I've been to the ER enough times to know I'll need that information at the worst of times. I have an electronic list stored in my phone, and a paper one tucked behind my driver's license. It also lists my drug allergies and sensitivites, of which I have several. (Sometimes I think I should have a chip in my neck that the doctor can just scan to get complete information.)

My list is just on a piece of paper, but I recently came across a great electronic form that you can print out and carry with you. Page one has basic information in case of an emergency, and page two has a very organized, easy to use form for everything you're taking. It's here:

• My Medicine List

Carrying a list like this with you is a lot safer than relying on memory for reciting your list of meds, and the last thing you need on top of a medical emergency is a bad drug interaction.

Have you learned this lesson the hard way? Have you had a list like this come in handy? Share your experiences here or in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community forum.

Suggested Reading:

• Treating Fibromyalgia
• Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Keeping a Symptom Journal

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