Knowing the medications you’re taking and communicating that information to your medical provider is even more important as you get older.

As we age, the number of medications we take – prescription as well as over-the-counter ones, along with supplements – typically increases. The combination of these drugs can lead to harmful side effects that your provider can help you avoid.

For instance, too much aspirin and ibuprofen can cause stomach bleeding and kidney injury. Fish oil can increase bleeding risks, and too many herbals and vitamins can be toxic.

“Over-the-counter medications and supplements can interact with the prescription medications you are on,” Dr. Jennifer Kempers, an internal medicine physician with UCHealth Primary Care in Steamboat Springs, said. “Knowing the full constellation of medications you are taking levels the playing field for your health care provider so we can treat you effectively.”

While it might seem tedious to review medications prior to each medical appointment, the process is necessary to ensure your chart is accurate and up to date.

“One of the most important parts of any medical or hospital visit is medication reconciliation,” said Kempers. “We need to make sure we are all on the same page. Charts are not always accurate and can sometimes have old or wrong information that we need to update.”

Before you head to a medical appointment, Kempers advises providing medical staff with a complete list of any prescribed medications, along with supplements such as vitamins, sleep aids like melatonin, and any allergy and cold medicine you are taking. She also encourages sharing what over-the-counter medications you take, such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

“Keeping the list up to date in your chart is half the battle,” she said. “We are better equipped to give you accurate information if we have your complete list of mediations.”

What to tell your provider about your medications

Kempers urges patients to share specific things about the medicine they take with their provider, including:

• The dosage of each medication, which includes the prescribed amount compared to the amount you take, if there is a difference.
• Time of day you take each medication. In addition to taking the correct dosage, taking medication consistently at a certain time of day may be part of your prescription. For example, taking a blood pressure medication at different times of the day can create variability in your body, potentially causing your blood pressure to spike too high or too low.
• Any side effects that you are experiencing.

“I make it clear to my patients that it is important to take certain medications every day and at a specific time,” said Kempers. “For other meds, I tell them they have some autonomy. For instance, with certain pain medications, they can space these out and take as needed.”

Kempers also suggests:

• Carrying a list of medications in your phone or wallet and making sure a loved one or trusted emergency contact has the same list in case you are incapacitated.
• Notifying your medical provider of any changes to your medication list that may have occurred during a vacation or if you saw a provider outside of your network.
• Make sure you tell a new provider about your medications if you see one while traveling.
• Utilizing pharmacists who can be a great resource on both prescription and over-the-counter medication side effects and interactions.

Aging can impact medication use and effectiveness

Just because you have been taking a medication for an extended period, it does not mean it still works the same way as you age.

A red flag for some older adults is the use of sleeping aids. For example, according to Kempers, the consistent use of diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl, for more than three years can increase the risk of dementia by 50%.

“As we get older, how we clear medications from our liver and kidneys changes because our organs do not work the same way as when we were in our 20s,” she said. “Medication that you have always taken may accumulate in the system because you’re not metabolizing it in the same way. If we have gained or lost weight, that can affect medication clearance as well.”

Kempers also said different doses of medication may be needed as your body changes over the years.

Medication compliance tips for older adults

Kempers offers several medication compliance tips:

• Use a pill box to keep your medications organized.
• Set an alarm on your phone to remind you when to take medication, or ask a loved one or friend to remind you.
• Keep a medication tracking log.
• Take the entire course of an antibiotic.

If you or a family member is unable to remember how or when to take a medication, that should be part of a conversation with a provider.

“If you are not taking your medications, we need to know. It’s not a confession as much as a discussion,” she said. “Acknowledging there is a problem is the first step; then we can work to resolve it as a team.”

This article was first published in the Steamboat Pilot.