The Importance of Medication Management for Older Adults

There are millions of people taking multiple medications to treat a certain ailment or condition all over the world.

With that said, many New Zealanders out there may still need help managing their medicines, trying to figure out which pills and drugs to take at what time. It’s essential for these people to take their medication as prescribed by their doctor. Otherwise, they risk experiencing side effects and interactions that may have an adverse effect on their body. This simple guide should help people manage their medicines in a more systematic way.

Why is Medicine Management Important?

Any form of medication has a risk of inducing some adverse effects in your body if not taken as instructed by your physician. Some combinations of medicines can even become problematic and can even affect your brain and nervous system. For that reason alone, you need to be more careful with how you keep track of all your medications.

Medication management is an important part of the overall treatment plan for elderly individuals who take multiple medications to treat various diseases or disorders. Non-adherence to your medication dosage can have a drastic impact on one’s overall health. It can either amplify or diminish the effect of certain drugs. On the other hand, it can also lead to the development of a new side effect due to the different drug interactions involved. If you don’t want to worsen your condition and make sure you make the most out of your medication, you need to follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter.

How to Manage Multiple Medications

Managing multiple medications can be a daunting task. But it can be made easier by following these simple steps.:

1. Fill Your Prescriptions at One Pharmacy

One of the most helpful things you can do to help you manage your medication is to fill your prescriptions at the same pharmacy instead of going around buying medication from different locations. This doesn’t just make your medicine runs a little easier, but it also ensures you’re getting good advice. You’ll only be maintaining your medication record in one place, so the pharmacist can evaluate your risk and work with your doctor to avoid potential problems.

2. Combine Pill Dispensers with a Reminder System

Developing your own reminder system when taking your medication is also a crucial step. Organization is key when trying to make sense of all the prescriptions you have. It just so happens that using a pillbox with the appropriate labels can be one of the best ways to manage your medication. Pair that with your reminder system, then you won’t be able to miss any dose or be confused about which medicine to take on a particular hour or day.

3. Get Someone to Help You

If you still struggle to keep up with your medication, then asking for help would be the next logical step. You can request a family member to help remind you or organize your prescriptions for you. There are also many professionally trained in-home caregivers out there that you can hire to remind you when to take your medication.

Conclusion

Medication management is the best solution any individual taking multiple medications at once can do for themselves. It can be as simple as setting the alarm on your phone when it’s time to take your pills or calling your local pharmacy to help you get the medication you need.