Have a doctor's appointment? Here's how you should prepare

Follow these tips to make the most of your next doctor's appointment:

• Bring a list of questions. Writing down your concerns beforehand will give you time to think through them without having to battle the distractions of the doctor's office, the rush of the visit or your nerves.

• Also bring a written record of all your current medications, including over-the-counter and herbal remedies, and a list of allergies, if you have any, to your appointment.

• For each medicine you're told to take, make sure you know why it's being prescribed, what it does, how it should be taken, for how long, and whether there are any special instructions for taking it. If you're prescribed a medical device, like an inhaler or a syringe, practice using it in front of your doctor to be sure you're handling it correctly.

• If you have trouble reading prescription instructions, ask your doctor to write out the instructions in clear, readable language that's free of medical jargon. Before leaving, go over them to make sure you comprehend them.

• Describe a typical day to your doctor, nurse or physician's assistant so that he or she can help you plan your daily schedule to fit in taking medicine.

• Ask your pharmacist to review your medication instructions with you.