Sharing Medications:
No Appointment Necessary

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, January 20 and March 9, 2008
Show 503

It's a disturbing trend with frightening statistics: one out of seven boys and one of out five girls has either shared or borrowed a prescription drug. Walgreens Pharmacist John Jenkins joins Dr. Lisa to explain why sharing medication is not only a bad idea, but a dangerous one. Doctors prescribe certain amounts of medication for a reason. Sharing medication reduces what you take, essentially cheating you out of the amount you need to help you get better. It's especially true with antibiotics, because you always need to take the full prescribed amount for it to be effective. Potential danger for the person borrowing the medication is also a major concern—there could be allergic reactions or other serious side effects. So teach your children that taking medication is serious business, and they should never share or swap them with anyone else.