Patient and Caregiver Communications Toolkit
Talk Before You Take: Communicating about the Benefits and Potential Risks of Prescription Medicines
Working Together to Increase Communication about Prescription Medicines
On January 28, 2015, the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) is launching Talk Before You
Take. This public education campaign is designed to stimulate conversations between healthcare providers and patients
about the benefits and potential risks of prescription medicines and promote the wise use of medicines through trusted
communication for better health. The campaign is grounded in research developed through a grant provided by the
Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s Office of Communications. We are
encouraging all of our partners to help promote the campaign through your communication channels. This easy-to-use
toolkit includes content for newsletters, blogs, websites, and social media. If there is additional content you would find
helpful, please email Oriana Hargrove (Oriana.Hargrove@gmmb.com).
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Content for Newsletters, Blogs, and Websites
The following is suggested content to share with your network. Please feel free to customize it to meet the needs of your
organization.
Option 1: What You Need to Know about Your Medicine’s Benefits and Potential Risks
Prescription medicines play an essential role in today’s healthcare system by keeping you and your loved ones healthy.
Nearly half of all Americans take a prescription medicine, and over 20% take at least three prescriptions.i Many patients
and caregivers have to manage treatment plans that include multiple medicines from multiple prescribers that
sometimes come from multiple pharmacies. Keeping track of all of this information can sometimes be confusing. As a
partner of the Talk Before You Take campaign, brought to you by the National Council on Patient Information and
Education, [insert organization] is encouraging you to talk to your healthcare providers about prescription medicines.
Use these tips to guide your conversations:
1. Talk to your healthcare provider and ask questions about the benefits and potential risks of prescription
medicines you take.
2. Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you are taking—including over-the-counter medicines,
vitamins, and dietary supplements.
3. Tell your healthcare provider about any allergies or sensitivities that you may have.
4. Read and follow the medicine label and directions.
Visit TalkBeforeYouTake.org for more information and to download free educational materials.
Option 2: Ask Your Healthcare Provider These Questions Before Taking a New Prescription Medicine
Nearly half of all Americans take prescription medicines, and over 20% take at least three prescriptions. Even so, a new
study shows that over half of patients are not aware of any safety warnings about their medicines. As a partner of the
National Council on Patient Information and Education’s Talk Before You Take campaign, [insert organization] is
encouraging you to “talk before you take.” Here are 10 important questions to ask your healthcare provider before
taking any medicines:
1. What’s the name of the medicine, and what is it for?
2. How and when do I take it, and for how long?
3. What side effects should I expect, and what should I do about them?
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Should I take this medicine on an empty stomach or with food?
Should I avoid any activities, foods, drinks, alcohol, or other medicines while taking this prescription?
If it’s a once-a-day dose, is it best to take it in the morning or evening?
Will this medicine work safely with any other medicines I’m taking, including over-the-counter-medicines?
When should I expect the medicine to begin to work, and how will I know if it’s working?
How should I store it?
Is there any additional written information I should read about the medicine?
Visit TalkBeforeYouTake.org for more information and free educational materials.
Twitter and Facebook Content
For Use with Graphic A: Talk Before You Take Logo and Tagline
Twitter
 Before starting a new Rx, talk to your healthcare provider. Helpful resources at TalkBeforeYouTake.org
 Taking 1 or more Rx meds? If so, download these resources so you ask the right questions:
http://bit.ly/15Q8ArE
Facebook
 Do you or a loved one take one or more prescription medicines? If so, make sure you take the time to talk to
your healthcare provider before starting treatment, and visit TalkBeforeYouTake.org to download a free guide
to help start your conversation: http://bit.ly/15Q8ArE #TalkBeforeYouTake
 Ever have questions about your prescription medicines? Take the time to “Talk Before You Take,” and download
a free guide with questions to ask your healthcare provider: http://bit.ly/15Q8ArE
For Use with Graphic B: Awareness of Potential Medicine Risksii
Twitter
 Are you one of the millions of Americans unaware of your Rx medicines’ risks? Learn more at
TalkBeforeYouTake.org
 Talk to your healthcare provider about the potential risks of your Rx & download resources at
TalkBeforeYouTake.org
Facebook
 Treatment regimens can be confusing if you have multiple healthcare providers, prescription medicines, and
pharmacy locations. That’s why many patients are not aware of any safety warnings about their Rx medicines. If
you have questions about your prescriptions, talk to your healthcare provider and visit TalkBeforeYouTake.org
to download free materials to guide your discussions. #TalkBeforeYouTake
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Could you be one of the millions of Americans unaware of any safety
warnings about your Rx medicines? Find questions to ask your healthcare provider about your Rx medicines at
http://bit.ly/15Q8ArE. #TalkBeforeYouTake
For Use with Graphic C: Tips to Guide Your Conversations
Twitter
 Download a free guide with questions to ask your healthcare provider about your Rx medicines:
TalkBeforeYouTake.org
 Follow these 4 tips so you fully understand the benefits & potential risks of your medicines #TalkBeforeYouTake
 Caring for a loved one? Follow these 4 tips to ensure you understand their Rx medicines #TalkBeforeYouTake
 Understand your Rx medicines’ safety warnings? Use these tips to make sure you do #TalkBeforeYouTake
 The next time you get an Rx, use these tips to talk to your healthcare provider. More at TalkBeforeYouTake.org
Facebook
 Are you aware of all of your prescriptions’ safety warnings? These 4 tips can help ensure that you are. Download
free resources including a guide with questions to ask your healthcare provider about your Rx medicines at
TalkBeforeYouTake.org #TalkBeforeYouTake
 Follow these tips on how to talk to your healthcare provider about Rx medicines and download a free guide with
important questions to ask about your Rx before you start taking it. #TalkBeforeYouTake
 Do you ever leave your healthcare provider’s office with lingering questions about your prescription medicines?
If so, access these 4 tips and download a free guide for use at your appointments at http://bit.ly/15Q8ArE.
 Do you help take a friend or family member to medical visits or the pharmacy? If so, use these tips to ensure
that you both understand the benefits and potential risks of their Rx medicines. You can also download a free
guide with questions to ask healthcare providers before starting new prescriptions at http://bit.ly/15Q8ArE.
NCPIE wishes to acknowledge that this work was supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
under grant number 5U18FD004653. The content is solely the responsibility of NCPIE and does not necessarily represent the official views of the
Food and Drug Administration.
i
National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2013: With Special Feature on Prescription Drugs. Hyattsville, MD. 2014.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors Concerning Risk and Safety Information of Medicines: A Survey of Consumers/Patients and HCPs in the U.S.”
An Internal Report (supported by FDA CDER Grant number 5U18FD004653). 2013. Washington, DC
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