Where There Is No Doctor 2011 63
HOW TO TAKE MEDICINES
It is important to take medicines more or less at the time
recommended. Some medicines should be taken only once a
day, but others must be taken more often. If you do not have a
clock, it does not matter. If the directions say ‘1 pill every
8 hours’, take 3 a day: one in the morning, one in the
afternoon, and one at night. If they say ‘1 pill every 6 hours’,
take 4 each day: one in the morning, one at midday, one in
the afternoon, and one at night. If the directions are ‘1 every 4 hours’, take 6 a day,
allowing more or less the same time between pills.
Whenever you give a medicine to someone else, it is a good idea to write the
instructions and also to have the person repeat to you how and when to take the
medicine. Make very sure he understands.
To remind people who cannot read
when to take their medicine, you can
give them a note like this
In the blanks at the bottom draw the
amount of medicine they should take and
carefully explain what it means.
For example:
This means 1 tablet 4 times a day,
1 at sunrise, 1 at noon, 1 at sunset, and
1 in the middle of the night.
This means 1/2 tablet 4 times a day.
This means 1 capsule 3 times a day.
This means 1/4 tablet twice a day.
This means 2 teaspoons twice a day.