Medication lists: Are they current?
A list of current medications is important information to keep handy. Is your list up to date? PHOTO COURTESY OF METROGRAPHICS
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of people using one or more prescription medications is 48.7 percent (data from 2009-2012). This number has increased from 1999 when it was 43.5 percent.
Sixty-four percent of Americans, age 60 and older, use three or more prescription medications, according to the CDC. These statistics do not include all of the nonprescription items, such as baby aspirin or herbal supplements you may also take. If you are one of those people who take more than three medications daily, that's a lot of information to try to remember.
A helpful way to keep this information handy is to have a medication list.
This type of list is very important to have with you at all times and should be kept in your wallet next to your driver's license or insurance card. A medication list becomes an important communication tool between you and your health care providers. It can be referenced during a primary care office visit or during an emergency when you are at a hospital. Remembering the details of your medication are crucial to provide you with the best and safest care, which is why having a complete medication list is so important.
Items that should be included on your medication list are:
• Medication name - brand or generic
• Medication strength
• How many times a day you take the medication
• What are you taking the medication for (purpose)
• Any over-the-counter items/medications you take
• Vitamins
• Herbal supplements
• Your primary care doctor's name and phone number
• If you have any allergies to medications
It is important to note that it is necessary to update your medication lists with any and all changes to your medications or medication schedule. This includes items you don't need prescriptions for, like baby aspirin or vitamins. The best time to review your list and make those changes is after a doctor's office visit or after a hospitalization. This is also a good time to throw out the old lists. Keeping old lists can be confusing and cause more harm than good.
Having a family member or close friend know where you keep your current medication list will be very helpful in the event of an emergency. You may not be able to speak or remember what medications you are taking or how much, so having that other person know where this information is or have access to it, is crucial to getting the appropriate care and keeping you as safe as possible. Medications, including those that you can get over the counter without a prescription, can interact with each other and cause other problems. The more the health care provider knows, the better they can take care of you.
Keeping your medication list handy and up-to-date is the easiest way to ensure that you, and those taking care of you, have the most current information to help make decisions about your care.
