Double-check label information on new prescriptions

Dear Heloise: As a pharmacist, I would just like to clear the air. (This is referring to a reader's hint about asking the pharmacist to put on the label what the medication is for -- Heloise.) We have no problem attaching a message to the prescription label, if informed by a patient or physician. However, the pharmacy does not choose to put "take as prescribed" on a prescription label. Those directions come straight from the physician. So, to combat the issue, I recommend that before leaving a doctor's office with a new prescription, make sure the directions are on the paper so that you don't have to remember how to take the medicine! Erin in Ohio
Erin, it is a good idea to reaffirm with the doctor what the prescription is for and exactly how to take it. Be clear -- is it four times a day, or take every six hours? The pharmacist is there to help you, so don't hesitate to ask. And it is nice of pharmacists to help make medication labels clearer. Thanks for passing along your info. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When I wash something by hand with dish detergent, I always wash one extra thing in the kitchen. As a result, my refrigerator shelves, drawers, etc., are always clean. Frederika from Seabrook, Texas
Dear Heloise: My daughter, Kim, came up with the following idea: At a party, for the smokers outside, she filled clay flowerpots with sand (blocking the large drain hole with a rock) and used them for safe ashtrays. She also painted the outsides of some with chalkboard paint and stuck colored chalk in them so the graduation-party guests could express themselves as desired on the outside of the pots. Looking at them, they looked like very clever outdoor decorations. Ruth Carr, Lexington, Neb.
Dear Heloise: I know that when people travel, they usually take their own shampoo, conditioner and soap with them. I do, too, even knowing that the hotels or motels provide the small samples to use.
Since we do a lot of traveling, I save the samples. At the end of the year, before Christmas, I take them to the women's shelter. They have people who might only stay a few days, and it helps the shelter to be able to give out the small items that won't go to waste like the larger sizes. Janie in San Angelo, Texas
Dear Heloise: Recently, my husband and I started reorganizing our office area. While going through the file cabinet and writing new labels for the hanging folders, I decided to write the Web site under the company name on the labels. Missy, via e-mail
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate