If you take more than one or two medicines, it is easy to lose track of what you take, when and why. A short written list, kept up to date, is one of the most useful things you can bring to any appointment.
Write a medicines list
For each medicine, write down:
- Its name and strength, as shown on the label.
- How much you take and when.
- What it is for, and who prescribed it.
- When you started it.
Include medicines you buy without a prescription, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, as these can also interact with other medicines. Add any allergies at the top. Keep a copy in your wallet or on your phone, and give one to a family member or carer.
Store medicines safely
- Keep medicines in their original containers, so the label and instructions stay with them.
- Store them somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight. A steamy bathroom is not ideal.
- Keep all medicines out of sight and reach of children and pets.
- Follow any special storage instructions on the label, such as keeping a medicine in the fridge.
Clear out once a year
Check expiry dates and remove medicines you no longer use. Do not throw them in the bin or flush them unless the label says so: ask your pharmacy about safe disposal or a local take-back programme. Never share prescription medicines with someone else.
Ask for a medication review
Bring your list, or all your medicines in a bag, to your pharmacy and ask for a review. A pharmacist can check how you take each one, spot possible interactions and answer your questions. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first.