If you have an existing medical condition or have had a recent change in your health, then you know you have a lot to remember and to incorporate into your life. Adding to an already-complex experience navigating your health plan and regimen, many plans get most confusing when factoring in all the pharmaceuticals. It can be a lot to take in all at once and can easily lead to information overload. And yet, you want to get the most out of those medications and your care.
It can feel like an avalanche of details, all those strange medication names and the list of them you have to take. You’ll want to understand the specific reason for each prescription, consider possible reactions, note any interactions between medications, and keep track of dosages and a schedule, too.
As overwhelmed as you might feel, you can gain greater control of your health by taking a handle on your medication regimen. Here, we’ve organized some tips and details to help you create a system that works for you. And remember, when it comes time to implement your plan or look for specialized advice, you can always count on Home Health Companions for your medication management, too.
Keep your list medication list handy at all times.
It’s pretty much a guarantee that when you go to see any medical professional, they’ll ask you about the medications you take as well as dosages. Don’t be surprised when the physician who prescribed most of the medicines asks for your list. Doctors do this to check and see if any other medicines have been added, and to match your list against their records.
It’s a good thing to review your medications frequently with your team of medical professionals. Over at Johns Hopkins in the article “Help for Managing Multiple Medications,” they suggest an annual review of all your medicines with your doctor. It’s essential to keep tabs on your prescriptions with your primary physician as well as with your specialists to be sure the doses are still in-line with your need.
Align your medication routine with the reasons you take them.
Over at Everyday Health in the article “How to Manage Your Prescription Medications,” they suggest establishing a routine for taking your medications. Every prescription you have provides instructions, such as the time of day it should be taken and whether it is to be on a full or empty stomach. A review of these specifics will help you determine when you’ll schedule the medicines that you need to take each day. And once it’s all on a schedule, the labels and instructions never have to be stressful again.
In addition, understanding the “why” of each medicine will help you set and maintain that schedule. Is the medicine helping to lower your blood pressure or reduce the impact of high cholesterol? Associating the reason for the medicine (along with the often-strange names) will further help you in tracking when you take them.
For added help, you can take advantage of several apps that offer “chirp reminders,” or you can even set your watch or clock to alarm as needed. The good news is that, with practice and just a little forethought thought, you can set a routine that will help you keep on schedule.
Use the same pharmacist, and check in with questions.
As much as possible, be sure to have all your prescriptions filled by the same pharmacy—and at the same location. Everything is computerized these days, so by going to the same location each time, you’ll talk with the pharmacist or pharmacy tech who can pull up your records to answer your questions. While the same company but a different location will have your records, too, you can quickly develop trust with the same pharmacist you see on a more regular basis.
Do you want to understand a specific interaction between medications, or add a supplement to your daily take? Your pharmacist is a great resource and can look over your records to help give you thorough information.
If you take several different medications at different times of day, then using a pill organizer is going to help you a great deal. The features of the organizer you choose will depend on the number of medicines and times of day you take them. Find a safe and easy place to store your medicines and your organizers and even your medication list so you can refill your organizers efficiently each week.
As you do fill your organizers each week, be sure to take note of those prescriptions that are due to be refilled, and then do so before you are completely out of any medicines. Check to see if you can order refills two months at a time to give yourself a wider margin before you run out of a medication. Check to see if your insurance plan, too, to see if it will permit you to order two months in advance, as this may save you money on the co-pay for refills, too.
Get medication support.
Almost as bad as not taking the medicines you need is taking them incorrectly. However, that overwhelming feeling that leads you to make mistakes in your dosages in the first place can be avoided. Home Health Companions offers medication management services for just that; our certified team can help you plan properly and stay on track with all your medications.
The medications you’re prescribed are meant to help you stay well. If you have difficulties setting a routine, ask for help from your in-home care provider. They can assist you in taking control of your medication management so you can move forward with confidence that you’re getting the most from your prescriptions.
Read more about medication management in our Library.
Bibliography:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/senior-health/managing-your-prescription-medication.aspx