ElderCare Q&A

Tips For Taking Meds

• If you are taking different medications at various times during the day, check with your doctor to see if your medications can be consolidated, or if you can get a longer-acting formula that requires less doses per day.
  
  
• If it's hard to take your medicine for any reason, ask if a liquid or tablet form is available. If pills are hard to swallow, get a pill crusher to grind them up. Large tablets can be cut along the score mark-but check with your pharmacists, since not all medications can be broken or crushed.
  
  
• If you have any side effects from a drug, tell your doctor. Adjusting the dose might take care of the problem, or switching to a different medication. But don't skip medications or adjust the dose on your own.
  
  
• Get a pillbox to help keep your pills straight. You can get an electronic pillbox timer that sounds an alarm when the dose is due.
  
  
• Use a pocket or purse-sized pillbox to keep your meds handy. Keep two supplies--one at home and one in your car or at work.
  
  
• Be familiar with the dosage instructions. Seniors can be more sensitive to side effects.
  
  
• Some over-the-counter drugs should be avoided when taken along with prescription drugs. Over-the-counter medications may weaken a particular prescription's effectiveness.
  
  
• Learn what to do if you miss a dose. Doubling a dose to make up for a missed dose can be dangerous.
  
  
• Don't just discontinue a drug. Stopping abruptly can have bad consequences, especially if you've been taking that drug over a long period of time.
  
  
• If you are skipping doses because a drug is too expensive, talk to your doctor about the free drug programs offered by most pharmacy companies, or call the Massachusetts Prescription Advantage program at 1-800-AgeInfo.
  
  
• Post a current list of drugs you take on your refrigerator.