Managing Your Medications

close-up of a senior man organizing medications at the home

Proper management of medications is one of the most important things patients can do for their health. Taking medications as prescribed by your physician is critical. Skipping doses or taking medications at the wrong time of day could impact their effectiveness. Discontinuing certain medications before completion, such as antibiotics, because symptoms have improved increases the risk the infection will return. Or even worse, the bacteria might become antibiotic resistant. For medications to have maximum benefits, they must be taken as directed.

What Your Healthcare Provider Should Know

A patient needs to tell each of their healthcare providers what medications they are taking to manage their health conditions. This is essential when visiting a new physician who may not have access to medical records from another doctor. The patient should include all prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and dietary supplements. Problems can occur when various medications interact with each other, leading to unwanted side effects. Some medications cannot be taken with certain foods. Some dietary supplements should not be taken with certain prescription medications. The physician needs to be aware of these factors when determining treatment options.

Understand Your Medications

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Patients need to understand the following basics about their medications:

Knowing how often to take the medication
How many times a day and at what times to take the medication
Whether to take with food or on an empty stomach
What to do if a dose is missed
Whether to avoid driving or alcohol while taking the medication
Possible side effects
Whether refills are available

Tips for Medication Management

Proper management is key, especially when a person is taking multiple medications. Setting up reminders can be helpful for remembering to take medications. Pillboxes containing daily compartments can keep the once daily pills together. A checklist or reminders on your phone can keep you on schedule when several doses are needed each day. It’s helpful to store medications in a convenient place where they are easily seen. The nightstand is a good place to keep pills that need to be taken in the morning or at bedtime. Medications kept in the kitchen or on the dining table can be a reminder to take medications at mealtime. Patients may want to set up automatic refills with their pharmacy so that they are never without their daily medications.

Assisting the Elderly

Elderly family members who take multiple medications may need help to manage them. They may have difficulty reading labels, opening bottles, or understanding directions. Memory lapses may make it harder to remember to take their doses. Some elderly people have trouble swallowing pills. These are all reasons that medication management may become difficult for aging adults.