The importance of taking your medications properly

Modern medicine offers many options to treat the many ailments that are associated with aging. But it is extremely important that medications are taken properly in order to reap the benefits and to avoid any unwanted side-effects.

Make sure that you understand why you are taking various medications.
Make sure that all of your physicians know about all of the medications you are taking.
Prepare an updated list of all of your pills, doses and prescribing physicians including drugs that were taken in the past and why they were stopped.
Notify your doctor of any over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers, vitamins or herbal preparations. All of these can interfere with prescription medication.
Select one community pharmacist so that your drug records are kept in one place, that way potential interactions can be identified.
To help with a complicated drug regimen, ask your pharmacist to organize the medications into blister packs arranged according to time for easy administration.

Hopefully with proper administration you will maximize the benefits of your medication.

Healthy aging tips by Dr. Shelley Veinish, Geriatrician at Baycrest.