Answer to Question 1
- DO NOT stop taking a prescription drug unless your doctor says it's okay, even if you are feeling better. If you are worried that the drug might be doing more harm than good, talk with your doctor. He or she may be able to change your medicine to another one that will work just as well.
- DO NOT take more or less than the prescribed amount of any drug.
- DO NOT mix alcohol and medicine unless your doctor says it's okay. Some drugs may not work well or may make you sick if taken with alcohol.
- DO NOT take drugs prescribed for another person or give yours to someone else.
Answer to Question 2
Progressive relaxation effectively turns off the stress response and induces relaxation. As a result, many of the adverse physical, mental, and emotional conditions associated with chronic stress have been reduced or eliminated with regular practice of PMR. It has been shown to be helpful in dealing with insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder. One study showed that those who practiced progressive relaxation experienced a lower heart rate, less anxiety, lower perceived stress, and a significant decrease in salivary cortisol (indicating a physiological decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity) compared to control subjects.