Taking multiple medications seems to go hand in hand with aging, but this can lead to problems and concerns. Have a serious conversation with your healthcare provider about the following:
- What medicines am I supposed to take and what are they supposed to do?
- Are these medications safe for someone my age?
- Will a lower dose work just as well?
- Do I need to treat this problem so aggressively?
- Is there something besides medication that could help with this condition?
- Is this prescription still necessary?
Often, remembering to take medication can be a problem. Consider trying some of these tips to manage this concern:
- Use a pill case. Some are available with sections for morning, noon, night, and bedtime.
- Have a sheet posted where you can check off each pill as you take it. You can create the form or find one on a website to print.
- Set a clock, phone, or timer as a reminder.
- Link medication-taking to a daily habit like eating breakfast or brushing your teeth.
- Go to a pharmacy that can prepare your prescriptions in bubble packs for the week (much like a pill case but it is an easy-to-open foil-backed bubble).
Medications can be very helpful, but we need to know what we’re taking, why we’re taking it, and we need to remember to take them.