Medication Management: Advice About Medication Reviews
Medication Management
Do you take medication? If you do, this blog is for you. Medication management is crucial in making sure you take your medication exactly as prescribed and that the medication you are taking is appropriate based on your current condition. A medication review by your healthcare provider (physician, registered nurse, pharmacist, etc) should be completed at least once a year to verify the regimen is optimal.
Take a deeper look into your prescription bottles. Do you know why you are taking the medication? Do you take several medications that are treating the same problem? Do you know the possible side effects and adverse effects? Do you know if any of your medications interact with another medication?
This isn’t a blog to suggest that you should or should not take medication; that is for your healthcare practitioner to determine. Most older adults do not have medication reviews according to U.S. Pharmacist https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/few-older-patients-on-multiple-drugs-have-pharmacist-medication-reviews. This article was created to educate you about medication management, so your medication does what it is intended to do, in the safest manner possible.
There are many reasons medication is prescribed. Medication is used to cure, prevent or manage an illness or disease. It’s also used to reduce symptoms related to an illness or disease. Several factors affect one’s response to medication: age, weight and overall physical condition. These factors determine how the body processes the medication and help the prescriber determine the appropriate dose of medication. These factors can change from time to time, and this is why medication management is important.
As one ages, they might not require the same medication, or the same dose of medication. The wrong dose of medication can do more harm than good. For example, taking too much medication for high blood pressure can cause low blood pressure (hypotension), and hypotension can produce fatigue, dizziness, and contribute to falls.
Determining the optimal medication regimen can be a delicate balance. The combination of medication and dose needs to be just right to have the desired effect and reduce the chance of side effects or adverse effects. Some medications can even cause another medication to have no apparent effect at all. If a healthcare professional isn’t reviewing your complete medication list on a regular basis, prevention of these effects could be overlooked.
The greater the number of medications that are taken, the greater the probability of a drug interaction. Polypharmacy is when several medications (prescribed and over the counter products, such as supplements and vitamins) are being taken daily and it can be dangerous. This occurs when more than one health care provider is prescribing medication, the medication is being dispensed at more than one pharmacy, or there is an unintentional lack of communication between all involved, including the patient.
In some instances, less is more. Ask your nurse, physician, or pharmacist to complete a medication review. Standards of care recommend having a medication review at least annually. The medication review shouldn’t be conducted when you are visiting the health care practitioner for another reason. Visits are typically time limited, and this process shouldn’t be rushed. It should be a dedicated time to focus on your medication to create a plan that is safe and effective.
If you feel that you are having trouble managing your medication, it may be time to ask a healthcare professional to assist. Medication management can include assistance coordinating medication with your pharmacy and provider or may include having someone fill your pill box to make sure you are taking exactly what has been prescribed. Medication management services are best provided by a licensed nurse who is familiar with reading physician orders and following them. Need more help? Contact me for a complimentary discovery call to learn about medication management services. https://wellnessstrategiesgroup.com/services/