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Retirement Connection Guide • 1-800-462-1316
Planning Your Doctor Visit
Community Resources & Services

How well you and your doctor talk to Sometimes doctors may ask you to bring
each other is one of the most important all your medications in a bag to your
parts of getting good health care. visit. Other doctors suggest making a list
Unfortunately, talking with your doctor of all your medications.
isn't always easy. In the past, the doctor Note Dosages, Frequency,
typically took the lead and the patient Side Effects
followed. Today, a good patient-doctor
relationship is a partnership. You and If you do make a list of the medications
your doctor can work as a team. you take, do not forget to write down
how much you take and how often you
Creating a basic plan before you go to take it, if a dosage has changed, or if you
the doctor can help you make the most are taking a new medicine since your
of your visit. These tips will make it last visit.
easier for you and your doctor to cover
everything you need to talk about. Write down any medication allergies you
have and any bad side effects you have
Make a List of Your Symptoms
had with the medicines you take. Also,
Talking about your health means sharing write down which medications work best
information about how you feel. Make a for you.
list of your symptoms before your visit.
Changes or medical encounters
Symptoms can be physical, such as pain, Your doctor needs to know about any
fever, a lump or bump, unexplained life changes that have occurred since
weight gain or loss, change in energy your last visit because they can affect
level, or having a hard time sleeping. your health. Tell your doctor if you had
Symptoms can also involve your to go to the emergency room, stay in the
thoughts and your feelings.
hospital or see a different doctor, such
What to Include as a specialist, since your last visit and
bring that doctor's contact information.
When you list your symptoms, be
specific and include: what the symptom What Else to Bring
is, when it started, what time of day, Bring your insurance cards, names and
duration, frequency, and anything that phone numbers of your other doctors,
makes it worse or better. and the phone number of the pharmacy
you use. Also, bring your medical
List Your Medications
records if your doctor does not have
Your doctor needs to know about ALL them.
the medications you take. Medications
include: prescription drugs, over-the- Article provided by:
counter (non-prescription) drugs, National Institutes of Health
vitamins, herbal remedies or www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov/
supplements, laxatives, eye drops TalkingWithYourDoctor
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