7 Tips for Managing Multiple Prescriptions

Many older adults take several daily medications to help manage chronic disease and stay healthy. Here, we offer seven tips to help you stay on top of multiple prescriptions — so you can stay safe and avoid dangerous interactions.  

Medication is an invaluable part of chronic disease management, and many older adults take several prescription medicines to help them control multiple illnesses — frequently, along with doctor-recommended dietary supplements — so they can live healthier, longer lives.  

It can be challenging to keep track of multiple prescriptions, but Dr. Garrigos and our team at Socrates A. Garrigos, MD, PA, are here to help. Learn our top tips for managing your daily medications to stay safe, obtain optimal therapeutic benefits, lower your risk of side effects, and avoid dangerous interactions.  

1. Make a list of all your medications 

Write down every prescription medication you take, along with any over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and dietary supplements, including the name of each medication or supplement, and the amount and times you should take it. 

You should also note which doctor ordered each prescription medication and why. Keep one copy of your list in a safe place at home and another in your wallet or purse to show to healthcare providers. You should review and update your medication list whenever there’s a change so it’s always current.

2. Get familiar with each medicine

It’s critical to tell medications apart when you take multiple ones daily. Be sure to familiarize yourself with each pill you take, ensuring you recognize them by color, size, shape, or the number/words imprinted on it.     

Knowing which pill is which when they’re outside their original pharmacy bottle or packaging is imperative for avoiding medication mix-ups when you’re tired or distracted — or if you opt to use a pill organizer (more on this strategy below).  

3. Understand your medication routine

Be sure to talk with your prescribing doctor or pharmacist about each prescription drug you take, confirming the exact dosage and timing of dispensation and special instructions, such as whether you need to take it on an empty stomach or with food.   

Help yourself adhere to your medication routine by writing it on a calendar or chart. You can also find printable medication schedule templates online to make this process easier. Be sure to update your schedule any time your medication changes.   

4. Use a weekly or daily pill organizer 

A pill organizer can be helpful when you take multiple daily medications. If your medication schedule spreads across various times of day, it can let you know at a glance if you have or haven’t taken your medicines yet. 

Pillboxes are available in various configurations, so choose one that fits your medication scheduling needs. For example, you might require a daily organizer or a weekly one, and it may need one, two, or three slots depending on whether you take medicine in the morning, at noon, in the evening, or all the above. 

You should refill a daily pillbox each evening and a weekly pill organizer just before the start of each week. Keep medications that aren’t in your pillbox in their original containers.  

5. Set alarms and establish habits 

Habits are automatic actions you do without thinking, such as heading straight to the bathroom when you wake up each day. Incorporating your medication into your routine can help ensure you take them as prescribed. For example, you might always take your morning medication right before eating breakfast or after you brush your teeth. 

Another option for building routine medication habits is to create audible reminders to take your medication by setting daily alarms on your smartphone, wristwatch, or alarm clock.

6. Fill prescriptions at one pharmacy

When you see the same pharmacist for all your prescription needs, your medication records are in one place, helping simplify the refill process and protecting you from experiencing harmful drug interactions anytime you have a new prescription. 

When you build a relationship with one pharmacist, you may also feel more comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns — and your pharmacist, in turn, gets to know you and your medication needs. They can screen for drug interactions when your routine changes and work with ​​Dr. Garrigos to avoid potential problems. 

7. Review your medications annually

Regularly — at least once a year — review all your prescription drugs, OTC medications, and supplements with Dr. Garrigos. Tell him about any side effects you’ve been experiencing, and ask if it’s possible to simplify your regimen. 

Growing older can change how your body breaks down and absorbs medications, making this medication review all the more vital as you age. Sometimes, Dr. Garrigos may need to adjust the medicine dosage you’ve been taking for years.  

Ready to up your medication management game? We can help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at Socrates A. Garrigos, MD, PA, in McAllen, Texas, today.