Take Time to Check Your Meds
Check your meds day is on October 21. This day is set aside each year as a public-health observance to encourage people to gather up all of their medications and review them.
The goals are:
· Identify expired drugs
After time medications expire. This date is on the container. Using expired drugs can be particularly dangerous for drugs treating diabetics, heart disease, or infections. Certain expired medicines, especially liquid ones, lose preservatives that help stop bacterial infections. Some drug products can have an extended shelf-life depending on storage conditions. Always research before using it if unsure.
· See what drugs you have that you no longer take
Gather the drugs that you no longer take and don’t expect to take again soon. The safest ways to get rid of these drugs is through a DEA-authorized drug take back program, a pre-paid mail back envelope, or if none of that is available follow FDA/EPA guidelines for home disposal. DEA has national take-back drugs take-back days twice a year. The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is on Oct. 24. Also many pharmacies have take back options.
· Check to see that you aren’t taking drugs that don’t work well together
One way to do this is to gather all of the drugs you are currently taking and make an appointment with your pharmacist. I have found from my own experience and from stories from my clients that when you have different doctors treating different problems, they will sometimes prescribe medicine without taking a good review of what you are already taking. ADHD medicine and allergy medications often clash. One client recently discovered that she needed a 4-hour time frame between taking two of her medicines. For some time, her ADHD medicine was not fully working because of this.
· Review drug directions to make sure you are taking them correctly
Is there a time of day that the drug should be taken? I have one medicine that says, “do not take after 4:00 PM”. Some medicines should be taken on an empty stomach. Some should be taken with a lot of water. And some should not be taken the same time of day as another one that is on your regimen.
· Put together a list of drugs you take regularly that includes name, dose, and purpose
List not only your prescription drugs but also your over the counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. Carry this list with you when you visit your doctor. One easy way to do this is to use a Medication Tracker.
Your medication list can be vital if there is an emergency. For example, I take a blood thinner. This would be important information for any first-responder.
Your medication list should include the name and strength of each medicine, the purpose of the medication, and when and how much of it you take.
It is helpful to also add your emergency contact and any allergies. Share your list with your emergency contact.
You might want to take a picture of the list and hold it on your phone.
Medication mistakes send 1.3 million people to the emergency room each year. Medications are important when used correctly. National Check Your Meds Day is the perfect time to make sure your medications are still correct for you.
If you want help or just some accountability in organizing any area in your home or putting together an organizational plan either outside or inside your home, join Diane Quintana and me on our Clear Space For You clutter support group.
Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients tackle the toughest organizational issues. Jonda does hands on organizing and virtual organizing. For more of Jonda’s tips connect with her on Facebook.
What a timely reminder! I keep a list of my mother's prescriptions and supplements, dosages, and when she takes them in a note in my Evernote account. I periodically update it but hadn't in the past two years; your post prompted me to call and make sure it was up-to-date. It was, but I realized that I didn't have a similar document for myself...but now I do, so thank you!
Great reminder, Jonda. I just recently created an Excel spreadsheet of my husband's, mine, and my daughter's prescriptions so we can use it for health insurance when looking for plans. We like to spend time each fall reviewing all the other vitamins/pills we may use throughout the year and making sure they have not expired. It is also handy to use one pharmacy that has a useful app to track your meds. They also notify us if any pills need to be purchased.