Caregiver Resources: 15 Tips for Safe Medication Practices

An important aspect of health care is medication and as a caregiver, it is crucial to follow safe medication practices. Depending on the number prescription pills and dosage, a should have been easy task like taking medications can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing for an individual. If they take medication for chronic medication, it is important to have a system that can work for a long time and is easy to adapt to changes.  

As a caregiver, it can be difficult to make sure the medicines are handled safely and especially if you have other tasks throughout the day. You can include these 10 actions to your caregiving schedule and make medicine use safer.  

Be Aware and Safe with Medicines  

Caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments commonly report problems with getting their relative or friend to take medications on time, in the right amount, and as directed. In surveys, caregivers often report that their knowledge of their loved one’s medications is greater than the care recipients themselves.

1 - Use Pill identification tool

When pills are separated from their containers or mixed together, it can be hard to tell which is which. You can use this pill identification tool to find the name and image of an unknown prescription or OTC medication.

2 - Look out for drug interactions

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to check for possible drug interactions. When a new medication is prescribed, ask whether it is okay to take it with other current medications. Also, remind your doctor of any allergies to medications or side effects that have occurred in the past. 

3 - Discard old medicines

If your doctor tells you to stop taking a medicine, get rid of it right away. Taking them by mistake could cause side effects or interact with your other medicines. Many local pharmacies and police stations offer take-back programs to help you get rid of old medications properly.

4 - Regularly check expiration dates

Also dispose of medications that are expired. Do not keep them for future needs. You could have side effects or a negative medicine interaction if you accidentally take expired medication.

5 - Review medicines annually

With age, the body reacts differently to different chemical combinations. If your loved ones have been prescribed long-term medications for chronic conditions, set an annual reminder to check-in with their primary care provider to review the prescriptions and ask it needs to be updated based on the current conditions.

Working With Providers and Pharmacists

Medical providers and pharmacists play a key role in making sure medicines are safe and work the right way. It is important to always be in contact with them, ask questions, and understand all the aspects of the medications.

6 - Keep a complete medication list

Make sure the pharmacy has a record of all prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. Share the list with doctors and pharmacist so they can watch out for side effects or drug interactions. Don’t assume physicians and clinicians know about all of the medications.

7 - Report allergies

Always let the doctor and pharmacist know about any allergies. Before starting a new prescription, confirm it will not cause an allergic reaction.

8 - Coordinate with all care providers

If they see more than one doctor, make sure each provider has the most up-to-date list of their medicines and dosages, including vitamins and supplements. Update the list when any changes happen.

Extra tip: Medication synchronization can make it easier to manage refills by letting you pick up all prescriptions on the same day.

9 - Inform about over-the-counter pills or supplements

Always ask a pharmacist before starting any new over-the-counter medicine, vitamin, or supplement. Many of these can interact with prescription medicines.

10 - Be careful with herbal products

Similarly for herbal supplements, the best thing you can do is check in with their provider or pharmacist. Even natural products can cause serious or unexpected side effects, especially when taken with other medicines. What might be marketed as harmless for example, ginkgo biloba or St. John’s wort can interfere with antidepressants, blood thinners, blood pressure medicine, and even common pain relievers.

11 - Ask questions to their provider

Staying in touch with the doctors and pharmacist helps catch side effects, stop dangerous drug interactions, and make sure the prescriptions are safe, effective, and affordable. If possible, be aware of the name, purpose, dose, schedule, and possible side effects of every medicine they take.

Never feel shy from asking too many questions. It is always better to be over-informed than less informed. When it comes to your loved ones' health, no question is stupid or unnecessary.

12 - Don't rely on internet sources

The internet has generic information specially about medications so if you have questions about how certain drug would react or what they are for it is always better to ask doctors. Take information on the internet with a grain of salt.

• Double-check with your pharmacist. Each time you pick up a prescription, confirm the details to stay on track and avoid mistakes.

• Be Careful with Alcohol. Some medicines don’t mix well with alcohol. Ask doctors or pharmacist if it’s safe to drink while they are on their prescriptions.

13 - Ask About Cost-Saving Options

If prescriptions are expensive, ask about generic versions, other safe options, or help programs. Don’t let then skip doses because of cost instead work with the pharmacist to find affordable choices.

14 - If you see side effects, ask for changes

Starting a new medicine can sometimes cause side effects or reactions. Common side effects include skin rashes, dizziness, or changes in mood or behavior. Even certain foods, like grapefruit, can interfere with medicines and affect how they work in the body. Ask your provider about any food restrictions or things to avoid before starting doses.

Why reactions happen:

• Personal differences in how a patient’s body reacts

• An allergic reaction to the medicine

• Interactions with another medicine or food

• Taking the medicine the wrong way

• Dosage changes made too quickly (higher or lower)

  
  

15 - Reduce the number of medications if possible

Research shows that the more medicines a person takes, the higher the risk of problems. This is common for older adults and people with disabilities who often manage several long-term health conditions like diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, or Alzheimer’s. Handling all of these at once can feel overwhelming and sometimes unsafe.

• Avoid health risks. Taking many medicines (called polypharmacy) can sometimes do more harm than good. A medicine that is no longer needed may still be prescribed, which can cause bad side effects or interact with other drugs. If their prescriptions feel unmanageable or unnecessary, ask the primary care provider to review them. Doctors can often adjust dosages, stop medicines they don’t need, or suggest safer options to make treatment simpler.

• Avoid high costs. Long-term prescriptions can be expensive. For people and families with limited incomes, paying for extra or unnecessary medicines can add financial stress without improving health. So, working with their pharmacists to reduce the money spent on medications and it can be effective for family budgeting.

Stay informed, Keep Informed

Preventing problems takes teamwork between doctors, pharmacists, caregivers, and patients. Everyone who prescribes, gives, or takes medicine has an important role in keeping it safe and effective.

Sharing accurate health information, clearly explaining problems, and staying involved in treatment decisions all help create the best results. With good communication and shared responsibility, medicines can stay both safe and helpful.