Medication Management
Q: I have several pills to take twice a day to manage my chronic conditions. How can I best manage taking all these?
A: In addition to basic pill sorters, there are medication reminder products and services that can help. For example, there are pharmacy services that can sort medications into individual packets. It is similar to a pill sorter, but you don’t have to sort the medications yourself. The packs include the name of the medication and when to take them. For example, if you take three pills in the morning and two at night, you will receive two packets for each day, sorted into a.m. and p.m. Most major pharmacies offer this service, usually at no extra cost. For some people, simple alarms set throughout the day can be enough. There are pocket-sized alarms that are easy to put in a purse or suitcase, or you can set cell phone alarms to perform that function. If you are tech savvy, there are many cell phone apps that can send medication reminders, keep track of refills, and more. Look for those that are HIPAA-compliant, which helps protect privacy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend an app.
It is helpful to have all your medications filled at one pharmacy. Specialty pharmacies, such as the one at UCLA, help patients understand complicated treatment plans and work closely with your doctors and specialists to coordinate your care. All pharmacists can provide a list of all medications as well as review them for potential negative drug-to-drug interactions and answer questions you may have about how and when to take medications. Many older adults are understandably frustrated by what we physicians call “pill burden.” That’s why it’s important to understand why you are taking a medication, what it can and can’t do, and possible side effects. Review your medications and your health goals annually with all your physicians. It’s possible there may be newer combination medications, or long-acting medications that are taken only once a day. When it comes to cancer treatments, some people might want something that has fewer side effects, even if it may not prolong life as much as another medication. It comes down to your goals of care and what it most important to you. Understanding the risk and benefits of treatments is essential, as is understanding if there are any non-medication options that may ease your condition. Discuss these subjects with your physician. Never stop taking a medication without talking with your doctor first. Some medications can be stopped abruptly, but others need to be tapered down.
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