Managing Multiple Medications
Adapted from "Friend to Friend"  Fall/Winter 2004
Bankers Life and Casualty Company

According to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, the average senior sees 7 different doctors and takes 20 prescription medications per year! Keeping track of everything can be challenging and safely managing your medications can also be difficult. Bankers Life and Casualty Company offers the following suggestions:

  1. Keep a complete list of everything you take. Be sure to include vitamins, supplements, herbs, naturopathic remedies and over-the-counter products along with your prescription medications. For each item, please note
  • Its name
  • Its shape
  • Its color
  • The dose or amount you take
  • The directions for use
  • The reason you take it and/or the condition it's prescribed for
  1. Review your list frequently. Keeping a medication list is an important part of your overall health and wellness plan. Review it regularly with your healthcare providers, including your pharmacist. Use the list to record changes in dosage, potential side effects and special instructions for use.
  2. Take the items on your list regularly. Whether it's a prescription or an over-the-counter product, take everything on your list as instructed. For your safety, never start or stop any prescription medication without checking with your doctor first.

  1. Buy the items on your list at the same pharmacy. If you don't already, consider filling all of your prescriptions at the same pharmacy -- it's fast, easy and convenient. More importantly, if you ever forget your list, your pharmacist will already know what you're taking and be better able to guard against potential drug interactions.
  2. Special Considerations for Seniors: Aging affects the way your body reacts to medications. It may be more difficult for your liver and kidneys to break down medications and eliminate them from your body. As a result, reactions to drugs can vary widely among seniors. In turn, this variance may make it more difficult for your healthcare provider to predict your response to a specific medicine.
If you've recently started taking a medication and experience any of the following symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately:
  • Changes in appetite
  • Chest pain
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Dizziness
  • Excessive drowsiness
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
    •

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