{"id":5321,"date":"2019-08-06T13:17:28","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T17:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=5321"},"modified":"2022-11-10T13:30:20","modified_gmt":"2022-11-10T18:30:20","slug":"medication-management-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-management-for-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Seniors’ guide to medication management"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not surprisingly<\/span>, the risk of chronic disease <\/span>increases as we age, with <\/span>85% of older adults<\/span><\/a> having one chronic condition and 60% having at least two<\/span>. These conditions often involve complex treatments, <\/span>including managing several differen<\/span>t medications. <\/span>While your healthcare provider and pharmacy team can help guide you on the best way to keep on top of your medications, it can be helpful to know the best practices for safe prescribing, storage, and ongoing use of medications.<\/span><\/p>\n

This medication management guide is designed to empower seniors, caregivers, and family members with helpful information<\/span> to <\/span>maximize the benefits of medication<\/span> while reducing the risk of medication errors and drug interactions. <\/span>As with all information dealing with medication and health guidance<\/span>, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any new medication or make changes to your medication regimen.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Effective medication management requires teamwork\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

You\u2019re an essential <\/span>part of your healthcare team<\/span> \u2014which is why you should educate yourself on <\/span>the ways you can be more involved in medication management<\/span>. To be successful, you\u2019ll need to <\/span>communicate with your healthcare provider so that the best medications are prescribed for your current situation and adjustments can be made in a timely manner<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of prescribing medication once and refilling it for the rest of your life, your doctor needs to be aware of health status changes that may affect or even eliminate your need for certain medications altogether. <\/span>Check in with your healthcare team regularly, even between appointments, whether it\u2019s through an in-person visit, a <\/span>telehealth<\/span><\/a> appointment, or simply a quick call to the nurse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading medication labels\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Doctors and pharmacists don\u2019t intend for medication directions to be confusing, but the fact is that many seniors have a mix of different medicines\u2014both prescription and OTC\u2014and it can be overwhelming. Balancing them all safely requires careful reading of the label to understand how each works and why it is needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s a medicine for a temporary condition or a long-term therapy, knowing how it works can empower you to make the best choices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All medications come with a label containing the basic information. <\/span>As you review your new medication, be sure to read the label carefully for information on dosage, timing, interactions, and other important issues. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"8<\/p>\n

Typically, <\/span>a prescription label<\/b> has eight parts and types of information. Keep in mind that your own prescription labels may look somewhat different, but they will generally have similar content listed for you to reference. Learn to recognize these parts on your own medication labels:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Pharmacy information:<\/b> Name and address, phone number, and other key details about the pharmacy that filled your prescription.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Your information:<\/b> Name and address of the person the drug is prescribed to\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Prescribing doctor\u2019s information:<\/b> Physician or healthcare provider\u2019s name and contact information.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Drug name and strength:<\/b> Medicine\u2019s brand, chemical, or generic name along with the strength of one unit of the prescription in a measurement such as milligrams (mg), <\/span>milliliters (mL), or micrograms (mcg).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Instructions:<\/b> An explanation of how and when to take the medication<\/span>. For example,<\/span> “Take one tablet by mouth twice daily, morning and night.”\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Prescription information:<\/b> Date your medication was prescribed, the date your medication was filled by a pharmacist, the number of pills or doses provided, how many times your prescription may be refilled, when your medication expires, and the number your pharmacy assigned to your prescription.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Pharmaceutical manufacturer information:<\/b> Name of the company that manufactured your medication and a physical description of the drug. If it\u2019s a generic version of a brand-name drug, the name of the branded counterpart may also be listed here.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Federal caution statement:<\/b> Prescription warnings such as \u201cCaution: Federal law prohibits transfer of this drug to any person other than the patient for whom prescribed.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Remember, you should never take someone else\u2019s medication, even if you\u2019ve taken it before. It\u2019s dangerous to take medicine that\u2019s not prescribed for you, and doing so could put your health at serious risk. <\/span>Always read the instructions section carefully, especially if it\u2019s a new medication, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions, such as what to do if you lose the dispensing spoon or dropper.<\/span><\/p>\n

    An <\/span>over-the-counter medication<\/b> you can purchase without a prescription has a different label, called a Drug Facts label. Here\u2019s what that usually includes, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. <\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Over-The-Counter<\/p>\n