What are some tips for older adults trying to manage multiple medications in a safe manner?
As people get older, they often need to take multiple medications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
With multiple medications – each with its own dosage instructions – it can become difficult to make sure you are taking the right amount of each medicine at the right time for the right number of times each day.
Safety Tips for Managing Multiple Medications
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the CDC recommend trying these steps to manage multiple medications safely:
- Keep a list of your medicines
- Carefully follow the directions on each medication
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist questions
- Don’t take more or less than the amount prescribed
- Check expiration dates
- Try to follow a medicine-taking routine
- Take all your medicines with you to your appointment with your primary care doctor so he or she can keep track of what you have been prescribed by all any other specialists
For more information about how to manage taking multiple medications safely, talk with your doctor.
Learn More:
- Learn about managing multiple medications.
- Learn tips for seniors to take medications properly.
- Learn how to be more involved in your healthcare: taking medications.
