Medication Management

The Area Agency on Aging Medication Management Program provides information about the safe use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. The program helps older adults and caregivers understand how to use medicines safely, reduce the risk of medication errors and poisoning, and become better informed before taking a medication.

Medication Safety Is Important

Many older adults take more than one prescription or over-the-counter medicine. Vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal products, and other nonprescription products may also be part of a person's medication routine.

Taking several medicines can make medication management more complicated. Medicines may interact with one another, with certain foods, with alcohol, or with dietary supplements. Changes in vision, hearing, memory, or dexterity may also make it more difficult to read labels, understand instructions, open containers, or follow a medication schedule.

Reviewing all medicines regularly with a doctor or pharmacist can help identify potential medication problems.

Educate Before You Medicate

Ask questions whenever you receive a new prescription or purchase an over-the-counter medicine. Make sure you understand what the medicine is for, how and when to take it, and whether there are important interactions or side effects you should know about.

Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist include:

  • What is this medicine for?

  • How much should I take and when should I take it?

  • Should I take it with or without food?

  • What should I do if I miss a dose?

  • Are there medicines, vitamins, supplements, foods, or beverages I should avoid?

  • What side effects should I watch for?

  • Could this medicine interact with anything else I take?

  • How should the medicine be stored?

  • How will I know if the medicine is working?

Keep an Up-to-Date Medication List

Keep a current list of everything you take and share it with your health care providers and pharmacist.

Your medication list should include:

  • Prescription medicines

  • Over-the-counter medicines

  • Vitamins and minerals

  • Herbal products and dietary supplements

  • The name and strength of each product

  • How much you take and when you take it

  • Why you take it

Bring your medication list to medical appointments and when you speak with a pharmacist. Update the list whenever a medicine is started, stopped, or changed.

Helpful Steps to Avoid Medication Errors

  • Check the medication label before taking each medicine.

  • Make sure a prescription bottle has your name on it.

  • Make sure the directions match the instructions you received from your health care provider. If they do not, ask your pharmacist before taking the medicine.

  • Do not take someone else's prescription medicine or share your prescription medicine with another person.

  • Make sure you can clearly read and understand the directions on the container.

  • Ask your pharmacy whether larger-print labels or other accessibility options are available if you have difficulty reading medication labels.

  • If you have difficulty hearing medication instructions, ask the doctor or pharmacist to repeat or write down the information.

  • Consider taking a trusted family member or caregiver to medical appointments if you need assistance remembering or understanding instructions.

  • Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

Remembering Your Medicines

If remembering when to take medications is difficult, ask your doctor or pharmacist about strategies that are appropriate for your medication regimen.

Helpful strategies may include:

  • Keeping a written medication schedule.

  • Using a calendar or medication checklist.

  • Using phone or clock reminders.

  • Using a pill organizer when your doctor or pharmacist confirms that it is appropriate for your medicines.

  • Connecting medication times with regular daily activities when doing so follows the medication instructions.

Never change how or when you take a medication solely to make the schedule more convenient. Some medicines have specific timing, food, storage, or handling requirements. Ask your pharmacist or health care provider before changing your medication routine.

Review Your Medicines Regularly

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your complete medication list periodically, particularly when a new medication is prescribed or after a transition in care, such as leaving a hospital or other health care facility.

Make sure each health care provider you see knows about the medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication or change the dose without first discussing the change with the appropriate health care professional.

Store Medicines Safely

  • Follow the storage instructions on the medication label.

  • Keep medicines in a secure location and out of the reach and sight of children.

  • Keep medicines in their original labeled containers unless you are using an appropriate medication organizer.

  • Do not use medication that belongs to another person.

  • Check expiration dates and dispose of unused or expired medicines safely.

Safe Disposal of Unused Medicines

Medicines that are expired or no longer needed should be disposed of safely. Drug take-back locations and take-back events can provide a safe way to dispose of many medications.

Follow current U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance for a medicine when a take-back option is not readily available. Do not flush a medicine unless its labeling or current FDA guidance specifically directs you to do so.

Poison Help

If you think someone may have taken the wrong medicine, too much medicine, or otherwise been exposed to a poison, contact Poison Help for guidance.

Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222

For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Medication Safety Resources

External links are provided for informational purposes. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified health care professional with questions about your individual medicines.

Contact the Area Agency on Aging

For more information about Medication Management education and other aging services, contact:

Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend
2910 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78408
Phone: (361) 883-3935
Toll-Free: 1-800-252-9240