The mistakes not To make when it comes to taking your medicine

■ Not shaking the bottle: Liquid medications make taking medicine easier. However, if you don’t shake the bottle enough to disperse the active ingredient, you won’t receive the correct dose and, when you near the end of the bottle, you will end up taking far too much of the drug. ■ Not taking it at the right time: The time of day that we take our pills could have a dramatic impact on their effectiveness, say scientists at the University of Surrey and the Institute of Cancer Research in London. Some medication should be taken at night because it can cause drowsiness, or because it’s more effective then. Others should be taken first thing to counteract symptoms that are worse during the day. Read the label carefully and follow instructions. ■ Not taking as directed: Some medicines should be taken on an empty stomach because they need to work fast and are more quickly absorbed – while some will only work on an empty stomach as they can bind with food and form a compound that your body cannot absorb. However, several medications must be taken with food to reduce the risk of side effects, to slow down absorption or because they can irritate the stomach.

■ ‘Borrowing’ prescription medication from friends or relatives: Up to half of us have taken someone else’s prescription medication, and almost one in four is willing to give their pills to friends or family, said a review in 2014 of 19 studies involving 36,000 people. This can have life-threatening consequences. “Prescription medicines are ‘prescription only’ for a good reason,” says a spokesman for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. “They are potent and should only be prescribed by doctors based on their clinical judgment after a consultation.” ■ Storing medication in the bathroom: Keeping medications where you’ll see them may seem a good way to remember to take them, but storing medications by a bathroom or kitchen sink exposes them to damage from dampness and light. Unless you’re told otherwise, store medications in a dry area, away from heat and direct light.

■ Taking out-of-date medication: Manufacturers give medicines expiry dates to ensure quality and safety. After this, the active ingredient may have degraded into inactive compounds, making it useless. Alternatively, there may be unpredictable effects, such as an upset stomach or a skin rash. If you can’t find an expiry date, check for changes in the appearance (colour changes and separation of liquids) and texture (tablets becoming softer, crumbly or sticky). The time we take tablets could have a big impact on how effective they are