@samanthaschneidermd

If you want the best care at your appointment, bring your medication list—or better yet, bring the meds or photos of them. “The red and white tube” doesn’t work. There are so many medications with similar packaging—and packaging can change. If your doctor doesn’t know exactly what you’re using, they can’t: • Adjust your treatment correctly • Avoid duplicating medications • Prevent irritation or interactions • Figure out why something isn’t working • Answer questions about how to use that medication properly Showing up with accurate medication allows you to get the most value from your appointment and ultimately get better care. 👉 Save this and bring your meds (or photos) to your next appointment.

♬ original sound - Samantha Schneider, MD

Quick question: if your doctor asked what you’re using at home, could you answer clearly?

A lot of people say something like:

“It’s the red and white tube my other doctor gave me…”

The problem? That description could mean a lot of very different things.

The “Red and White Tube” Problem

Many medications come in similar-looking packaging—but what’s inside can be completely different.

For example, tubes that look nearly identical could contain:

• A topical antibiotic
• An antifungal cream
• A steroid (in different strengths)
• A retinoid
• Even a chemotherapy cream

Each of these treats a totally different condition.

So when your doctor hears “a red and white tube,” it doesn’t give them enough information to guide your care safely or effectively.

Why This Matters for Your Care

Getting the details right isn’t just about being organized—it directly impacts your treatment.

Without accurate information, your provider may:

• Misinterpret what you’re using
• Prescribe something that overlaps or conflicts
• Miss an opportunity to adjust or improve your regimen

👉 The more precise you are, the better your care will be.

The Simple Fix: Take Photos

You don’t need to memorize long medication names.

Instead, do this:

📸 Take photos of your actual products at home

Include:

• The front of the tube or bottle
• The label with the medication name and strength

Keep them on your phone so they’re easy to pull up during your appointment.

Even Better: Keep a Running List

If you want to go one step further, keep a simple list that includes:

• Medication names
• Strengths (if listed)
• How often you use them

This is especially helpful if you’re seeing multiple providers.

Why It Makes a Big Difference

When you come prepared with clear, accurate information:

• Your appointment is more efficient
• Your provider can make better decisions
• You’re more likely to get results faster

It’s a small step that can have a big impact.

Final Thought

You don’t need to know everything about your medications—but you do need to show exactly what you’re using.

Because “the red and white tube” could mean almost anything.

Next time you have an appointment, take a minute to snap a few photos—you’ll make your doctor’s job easier and your care better.

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Want the transcript for this video instead?  

 Can I show you something? Just watch real quick. One second. This is why it is incredibly important for you to not only bring your medication list, but take photos of the actual tubes or products that you're using at home. Because when you say, you know, I'm using the one that my other doctor gave me, the red and white tube, it could be all of these different medications, and they're vastly different.

In this lineup, we have topical antibiotics, we have topical antifungals, we have a chemotherapy cream. We have varying strengths of topical steroids, and we have retinol. They all treat different things, so you can see how it could be really challenging as your physician. If the information that I am given is that it's the red and white tube.

And just because yours is a red and white tube doesn't mean it's always a red and white tube. Like, look, here are red and white here. Not so much. Again, red and white. Not red and white. So understanding your medications, coming armed with that information is how you are gonna get the best care at every single doctor's visit.

Do you bring your med list to your doctor's appointment? Tell me about it.