25 Great Ways to Manage Your Medications

9. Store medications properly

The United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) recommends that medication storage temperatures should be maintained between 59 degrees Fahrenheit to 86 degrees Fahrenheit — so in the steamy bathroom, on a sunny windowsill or by the hot stove are not ideal locations to store your pill bottles. Rasaki says it’s important to store your medications at the right temperature because it helps avoid ingesting damaged medication. Humidity is another important factor. According to the World Health Organization, medications should not be stored in conditions where the humidity exceeds 60 percent. Additionally, Rasaki says it’s also important to store medications in their original container, as changing the bottle could result in you forgetting which medication it is. 

When traveling, don't keep medications in your checked luggage — always carry them with you.

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10. Travel smart

When traveling with medication, Rolando R. Maldonado, M.D., a physician at Midtown Family Medicine in Houston, shares a couple of rules to live by: First, always carry the medications with you (in your purse, backpack or carry-on bag) and never check them — airlines lose luggage every day. And second, always take extra doses in case your vacation runs longer than expected, or some pills get stolen or misplaced. Note: These tips are especially important if you’re traveling solo.

11. Consider using a medication-management service

Have a lot of medications to keep straight? A medication-management service (MMS) can review your drug regimen and assist you with developing a schedule. “These services can help prevent adverse drug events, lower drug costs and enhance communication with your health care provider,” says Rasaki, who urges patients to talk to their doctor about what medication-management services are available for them. 

12. Never skip dosages

It can be tempting to skip doses of medicine due to the expense of refills, wanting the medication to last longer, or even if you’re feeling better. But skipping doses can lead to severe complications, especially for heart disease and diabetic patients, Maldonado says. “It can lead to worse symptoms, worsening of the disease, ER and hospital admissions and even death,” he says. Always follow the exact instructions printed on the medication label and consult your physician if you have concerns about doing so.

13. Avoid mixing medications with alcohol

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, combining alcohol with certain medications — particularly those with sedative effects — can increase the risk of adverse events, including falls, driving accidents and fatal overdoses. It goes on to report that people 65 and older are at particularly high risk for harm, due in part to age-related changes in their physiology and their increasing use of medications that could interact with alcohol. Plus, Maldonado says it can interfere with the effectiveness and absorption of medications. “I tell my patients to avoid drinking at least four to six hours after taking medication and to limit that amount of consumption,” he says. Common medications known to interact negatively with alcohol include anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, sleep aids, opioids, anti-coagulants and antibiotics.

14. Keep track of refills

Keeping track of when to order refills can be challenging — many refill policies allow you to refill or renew a prescription medication when 25 percent to 35 percent of your current prescription is left — and picking them up can be a hassle, too. “This is especially harder with seniors who live alone or may have no family members to help them,” Maldonado says. “Seniors often need to buy medications from multiple sources to get the best price, which makes it even harder to get medications if they are getting some mailed, and others at different pharmacies.” He says companies like PillPack (by Amazon) can help by delivering automatic refills right to your door, and it accepts most insurance plans. Other options include Nimble and Express Scripts. 

Prescription medications can sometimes benefit from adjustments. Be honest with your doctor during regular visits on how you're responding to the treatment.

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15. Follow up with your doctor for adjustments

Seniors should visit their doctors regularly, as prescription medications sometimes need adjustments. “This could be due to changes in their health, how they respond to treatment, or the development of new medical issues,” Patel says, adding that these visits provide an opportunity to review medications and make modifications to enhance treatment outcomes. Aim to schedule regular checkups every few months and bring an updated list of all medications, including OTC drugs and vitamins.

16. Wear a medical ID bracelet or add it to your smartphone

 Maldonado says medical ID bracelets are important because they help quickly identify people with specific medical conditions in emergencies. This is especially true for insulin-dependent diabetics, heart conditions, seizure disorders, allergies to medications and dementia patients who may wander off. You can also set up a medical ID on your smartphone, which allows first responders to access it without your passcode.

17. Don’t take expired medication

All medications have an expiration date, and they’re listed on the bottle for a reason. “Old or unused medicines can lose their potency and effectiveness, potentially posing risks to health,” Patel says. Plus, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, “certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance.”

18. Dispose of old medications safely

No longer using a medication or it’s past its prime? It’s prudent to dispose of medications that are not needed or effective anymore — but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can just toss them in the trash. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in communities nationwide, and many communities have their own drug take-back programs. Also, check with your pharmacy — some offer on-site medicine drop-off boxes or mail-back programs. If neither of these is an option, consult the FDA’s list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing.

19. Don’t share medications

Patel says sharing medications is a dangerous practice because they are prescribed based on individual health conditions, dosages and medical histories. “Sharing can lead to serious health risks, including adverse effects or allergic reactions,” he says. To help ensure responsible use of medication and to protect everyone’s health, he encourages seniors to communicate this to family and friends.  

Ask your physician about updates on the medications you're taking or sign up to receive FDA alerts on product recalls and market withdrawals.

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20. Stay informed on new research and recalls

Science is an ever-changing field, and that means medications change, too. Your prescribing physician should provide updates on any new information through periodic visits, but don’t be shy about asking those questions proactively. Drug recalls do happen, and it’s a good idea to stay abreast of those — sign up to receive FDA alerts on product recalls and market withdrawals.

21. Communicate with your pharmacy for all OTC medications

Popping an OTC pain pill or allergy pill may seem harmless, but it could interact with prescription medications, potentially leading to harmful side effects or reduced effectiveness. Pharmacists can help identify suitable OTC options that align with individual health conditions, Patel says, noting that open communication with the pharmacy ensures a comprehensive medication plan, promotes safety and enhances overall health management.

22. Ask about a generic option

It is estimated that 91 percent of all prescriptions in the U.S. are filled as generic drugs, with more than 32,000 generic drugs approved by the FDA to date. It’s worth asking your doctor about in order to save money — but it’s not always a feasible option, medically speaking. “If there are options, we always recommend taking the generic, but not all medications come in generic alternatives,” says Ohan Karatoprak, M.D., geriatrician and director of family medicine at Holy Name Medical Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey. “Sometimes patients will need original medication to better calibrate the dosages. For example, certain hormone replacements are in this category.”

23. Be aware of food interactions

Before taking a medication, patients should check the instructions on the label to see if it should be taken with food or without food. “However, medication should always be taken with a full glass of water — no juices, especially grapefruit juice, because it blocks the absorption of the medication,” Karatoprak says. Other food interactions to ask about include leafy greens with certain blood thinners, dairy with tetracycline, and tyramine-containing foods (such as red wine and processed meat) with MAO inhibitors, a common class of drugs used to treat many psychiatric disorders. 

24. Watch for prescribing cascades

A prescribing cascade begins when a drug is prescribed, and an adverse drug event occurs that is misinterpreted as a new medical condition. Then a new medication is prescribed to treat this drug-induced adverse event. If you suspect this might be the case, ask your health provider if this new symptom could be a side effect of one of your medications — and if it could be reduced or reversed by choosing an alternative drug. Be sure to mention any OTC medications or supplements you’re taking, too.

25. Seek help if needed

Some medications come with unpleasant side effects, like constipation or loose stools, dry mouth, or insomnia. But if there is a life-threatening emergency — such as an allergic reaction, including swelling of the tongue or throat, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, lightheadedness or unconsciousness — you must act quickly. Call 911 or get to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible.