How do you manage your medicines? Do you sometimes forget to take them? Do you stay away from certain medicines because of side effects, cost, or another reason?
A recent survey found that about 30 percent of seniors take eight or more medicines daily. And 76 percent take at least three medicines daily. People who are younger are more likely to take a medicine, such as an antibiotic, for a short length of time. However, seniors are more likely to take medicine for a longer period of time. Seniors need these medicines to control chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or arthritis. When over-the-counter medicines are added for colds, allergies, sleep problems or pain, the picture becomes cloudier.
In a survey of Medicare patients from 2003, 40 percent of patients indicated they sometimes did not take their medicine as directed. In addition, patients who do not have drug coverage were more likely to stop taking their medicine. This fact suggests that cost was a major factor for some of those people. Fortunately, Medicare Part D has helped decrease this issue by offering coverage of prescription medications.
There are many other reasons for skipping doses of medicines. Drugs sometimes have side effects that are unpleasant. If a treatment does not seem to be working, a patient may stop taking it or take it every once in a while. By doing so:
1) Patients do not get the benefit of the medicine they need for good health,
2) Health care providers do not have a clear picture of the effects the medicine has on the patient, and
3) Doctors may make other treatment decisions based on the false assumption that the patient is taking the medicine.
With most seniors, it is a once in a while miss, usually due to forgetting or becoming confused. In general, the more medicine a patient takes, the more difficult it is to keep track of them. This can lead to the need for medicine organization, which is a good reason to have a daily pill container.
It is also easier to remember to take medicines if they are linked to daily events. Routines such as tooth brushing, eating breakfast, morning walk, or a snack in mid-afternoon can be used as reminders to take medication. In addition, it may be helpful to keep the bottles or pill organizers in a place that is always passed and/or in the room where a person will be when it is time to take the medicine.
Medicare now requires that each prescription drug plan provide a monthly summary of the medicines purchased by the patient. This service helps in managing medicines. The summaries include descriptions, prescribing information and pictures of each of the medicines. This can also be taken to the doctor’s appointment to start a conversation about medications with the doctor. If some of the medicines are too expensive, this is the perfect time to talk with the doctor about it. It is also the perfect time to talk about other problems that may be going on with the medicine.
If patients are getting prescriptions from more than one doctor, it is important that each doctor have a complete list of all of the medicines, including any over-the-counter pills (such as AdvilÒ, TylenolÒ, etc.), vitamins and supplements. It is also a good idea to get all prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy so there is one more expert reviewing the list of medicines for any possible drug interactions or other drug related problems that may occur.
Everyone should look over each medicine as soon as they receive it. The pharmacist can help make sure the label can be read and explain how the medicine is to be taken. It is also important to know why this medicine is being taken. The pills come in various sizes, shapes and colors to help identify them. Try to memorize the name, both generic and brand name. Plus, try to connect it with the shape and color of the pill. All of these can help put together what the medicine is and why it is being taken. Also, read and follow all of the warnings and other information given about the medicines carefully. If there are any questions about any of the medicines, ask the pharmacist.
Medicines have come a long way from the days of the traveling medicine show. Now there are many powerful medicines for uses ranging from lowering cholesterol to helping with depression. The use, misuse or non-use of those medicines could be a matter of life and death. If there are any questions, please ask. We are here to help.
Kerri Musselman, Pharm.D.
