While it's mostly an issue for older adults, mixing medications and taking too many different types at one time is a concern for everyone. Even if you're in close contact with your doctor there is still a significant risk to your health if you're on more than a couple different meds -- drugs are getting so complicated these days human error is inevitable when it comes to remembering, and predicting, side-effects and drug interactions.

How many meds are you or your loved ones currently taking? Are you aware of and watchful of potential side-effects and are you absolutely sure you need them all? When it comes to your health you are your own best ally, so educate yourself and be involved.

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A new study on treatments for schizophrenia, mainly new drug therapies, shows that the latest in medications used to treat symptoms aren't any more effective than the older medications.

The real issue seems to be that often patients stop taking their prescribed medications, both the older and the newer ones. And for those who do follow their treatment regimen, there is no noticeable difference or benefit found for either the older meds or the newer ones -- they seem to be the same.

What is known, and what was confirmed even more by the study, was that taking medications as prescribed -- without quiting -- greatly helped patients function and work in society much more successfully. So the trick seems to be finding a drug or drugs that patients will be less likely to stop taking, whatever that may be.

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