Drugs: Practical Advice for Managing Your Medication

By Michele Blandino

For many people, one of the unfortunate side effects of growing older means an increase in the number of prescription medications that become necessary. And, while many of these medications are indeed needed to maintain good health, the discipline needed to remember to take the required daily dosage is often enough to confuse and even overwhelm some people.

The importance of maintaining the correct dosing schedule for any medication cannot be overestimated. Taking either too much or too little of any medication can have adverse effects and in some cases, can lead to long term problems and even death.

So, how can seniors, or anyone for that matter, properly manage their prescription medications? Here are a few tips:

Keep a List

As basic and intuitive as it may sound, many people do not keep a written inventory of all their prescription medications. While it is always important to do so, it becomes even more critical for a person who is under the care of more than one physician.

Many physicians are diligent about ensuring they communicate with specialists their patients may be seeing, unfortunately however not every physician takes the time to do this. And when this communication does not take place, important information regarding the patient’s treatment may be missed. Keeping a current list of medications and the required dosages – and bringing it with you to each doctor’s visit – is one way to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Establish a Routine

Many people, particularly those who take several medications, rely on compartmentalized pill containers to help them remember which pills need to be taken and when. While these are valuable tools, they are only as useful when they are properly filled. To help minimize the chances of running out of a particular medication, it’s best to establish a routine for filling the container. Pick a specific day of the week for this task and stick with it, take note if any medications you might be running low on. Establishing a routine for this task will enable you to identify any medications that may need to be refilled before you actually run out.

Use the Same Pharmacy

Some people have their prescriptions filled at different pharmacies; perhaps they use a pharmacy closer to their job for prescriptions that need to be filled during the work week and a different pharmacy near home for weekends and vacations. Certainly, convenience plays a big role in the use of dual-pharmacies, but the trade-off may not be worth the time saved.

Most pharmacies are equipped with extensive databases that not only keep track of the various medications a person takes, but also checks for interactions and other types of conflicts. Obviously, these databases will not be as effective when they do not have complete information. Having all of your prescriptions filled at the same place will help ensure these safeguards work properly.

A Final Word

Prescription medications are a serious matter and every precaution should be taken to ensure they are properly managed. Most people can adequately manage this on their own, however, should it become necessary, they should seek the help of a trusted friend or relative.