Medications and Aging: How to manage your daily medications as you age
One of the more difficult tasks of life as we age can be keeping track of the medicines we take. Sometimes it seems as if the list of medications keeps growing and it is hard to know what to take and when.
This not only applies to prescription medications prescribed by your doctor, but also any over the counter medications (those you buy without a prescription such as ibuprofen or heartburn tablets), vitamins, and dietary supplements.
It is important for your doctor to know about all forms of medication you take. This includes current prescriptions, over the counter medications you take either every day or only sometimes, vitamins, supplements, and any herbal remedies. All of this information will help your doctor in their treatment plan for you.
One of the most important things you can do is to actively talk with your doctor about your medications and any side effects they may cause such as nausea, trouble breathing, rashes, or mood changes. If your doctor has a full understanding of all the medications you are taking, they may be able to diagnose which medication (or combination of medications) are causing the effects.
If your doctor prescribes you a new medication, do not be afraid to ask questions about it. Write down the answers to these questions for future reference. These questions should include things like:
What is the name of the medication?
What condition is it being prescribed for?
How often do I take it?
How much should I take?
How long will I be taking it?
Should it be taken with food and/or water?
Will this cause any problems with my current medications?
Will I be able to drive while taking this medication?
What are the side effects?
What do I do if I need a refill?
Your pharmacist may also be able to help answer these questions if you forget to ask the doctor.
Now that you have the information needed on the medication, here are some steps to help keep track of the medications you are taking, as well as take them safely:
Make a list of all the medications you take and include information on what the medication is, how much you take, when you are supposed to take it, and if it is a prescription, which doctor prescribed it and why.
Keep all of the information provided with the medication at the pharmacy and keep it in a file.
Check the expiration dates on your medications.
Keep medicines out of reach of young children.
Use a medication planner to help you organize which medicines you take on which days/times.
For some, this may be too large of a task due to age, eye sight, or illness such as Alzheimer's. If you are have concerns about a friend or relative that may be having trouble managing medications, this article may give some insight on how to handle the situation. If this is the case, Sunshine Home Care may be able to help. Contact us or call us at 1-877-2014 today to find out more information.
