Older adults are the biggest users of prescription medicines. Taking several medicines from different doctors raises the chance of side effects, interactions and mistakes. A few simple habits can make your medicines safer and easier to manage.
Keep a complete medicine list
Write down everything you take, including:
- Prescription medicines.
- Over-the-counter medicines, such as pain relievers, antacids and sleep aids.
- Vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements.
- Eye drops, inhalers, creams and patches.
For each one, note the name, dose, how often you take it, what it is for and which doctor prescribed it. Add any allergies or past bad reactions. Keep a copy in your wallet and on your fridge, and give one to a family member you trust. Bring it to every appointment and hospital visit.
Use one pharmacy
Filling all your prescriptions at one pharmacy lets the pharmacist check for interactions between medicines from different doctors. Pharmacists are also a great source of free advice about side effects and how to take your medicines.
Set up a routine
- Use a weekly pill organizer with compartments for each day and, if needed, morning, midday, evening and bedtime. Fill it at the same time each week.
- Link doses to daily habits, such as breakfast or brushing your teeth.
- Set reminders on a phone, alarm clock or medication reminder device.
- Keep a simple check-off chart if you find it hard to remember whether you took a dose.
Ask for a medication review
At least once a year, ask your doctor or pharmacist to review everything you take. Bring all your bottles in a bag, a "brown bag review." Ask:
- Do I still need each of these medicines?
- Could any of them be causing side effects, such as dizziness, confusion or constipation?
- Do any of them interact with each other or with my supplements?
- Is there a lower-cost option?
If you have Medicare drug coverage, several chronic conditions and high drug costs, your plan may offer a free Medication Therapy Management program, including a comprehensive review with a pharmacist.
Questions to ask about a new medicine
- What is it for, and how will I know if it is working?
- When and how should I take it? With food?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
- Is it safe with my other medicines and supplements?
Medicines that need extra care
Some medicines are more likely to cause problems in older adults, including certain sleep aids, allergy medicines with diphenhydramine, some muscle relaxants and medicines that cause drowsiness. They can raise the risk of confusion and falls. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own, but ask your doctor whether each one is still the best choice.
Store and dispose of medicines safely
- Store medicines in a cool, dry place, not in a steamy bathroom.
- Keep them out of reach of grandchildren and visitors.
- Get rid of expired or unused medicines through a pharmacy take-back kiosk, a community take-back event or the disposal instructions from the FDA. This helps prevent mix-ups and misuse.
Read ways to cut your prescription costs if price is making it hard to take your medicines as prescribed.
