When you’re looking at all the prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins/supplements your loved one takes, it can feel overwhelming. That’s likely when you realize how important it is to ensure that your loved one takes the right medicine, in the right way, at the right time.

There’s a lot to keep track of and understand, so questions come with the territory. Luckily, you have professionals to help you—your loved one’s pharmacist and medical providers are great sources of information and insight. All you have to do to get help is ask.

Questions to ask at a doctor’s appointment

Medical appointments are a great time to ask questions, whether they’re about existing medications or new prescriptions. It’s helpful to bring a complete and up-to-date list with you. During the appointment, you, or your loved one, can ask:

• What is a medication for?
• How long should a medication be taken?
• What are the side effects?
• What side effects should be reported to the provider immediately?
• Is there potential for an interaction with current medications?
• Are there any medications that are no longer necessary? Stopping medications that are no longer necessary can make things less confusing and reduce the risk of side effects.

If medical terminology is used and is difficult to understand, be sure to ask for an explanation.

This is also a good time to tell the provider if your loved one stopped taking a medication or didn’t get a prescription filled due to cost. Sometimes there’s a similar drug that may be covered by insurance or a generic version that may be less expensive.

Use the pharmacy as a resource

When you pick up a prescription at the pharmacy, it’s important to ask questions such as:

• How should the medication be taken? Find out if there are special instructions. For example, some medication must be taken at a certain time of day or with/without food.
• How should this be stored? Does it need refrigeration?
• If the medication comes in an inhaler or injectable form (such as insulin), ask the pharmacist how to use it.
• What are the side effects?
• Which side effects should be reported to the doctor immediately?
• Do the side effects increase the risk of falling?
• Could a medication interact with anything your loved one is already taking? If the same pharmacy is used regularly, the team there will have records of other medications being taken. Be sure to inform the pharmacy of any additional over-the-counter vitamins or supplements your loved one is taking regularly.
• Some independent pharmacies can pre-package medications. Ask if your pharmacy provides this service. Prepackaging medications will minimize confusion, increase safety, and help ensure the medications are taken correctly and can help with taking them on time.

Remember that you can always ask to speak with the pharmacist, even if they seem very busy or if a different staff member waits on you at the register.

Before you leave the pharmacy, check to make sure you have the right medication. Checking prescriptions before leaving the pharmacy assures medication safety and avoids waste—you can’t return a prescription after you leave the pharmacy.

It’s common for pharmacies to use different manufacturers. If you notice the pills in your refill look different, be sure to double-check that it’s the correct medication.

Set up an annual medication checkup

Your loved one should have a medication checkup once a year with their primary care provider (PCP) and a pharmacist.

Get medication lists from your loved one’s PCP and all their specialists. Then combine them into one list and share it with all your loved one’s providers. It’s also very important to include all over-the-counter medications and supplements on the medication list. This will help ensure your loved one’s medical records are current and accurate.

If your loved one is taking a medication differently than how it’s written on the list, be sure to note it on the list and point it out to all providers.

If all your loved one’s prescriptions are filled at the same pharmacy, the pharmacist should have a complete record of medications. That will help them in identifying any adverse effects of taking those drugs.

Managing medications is a challenging role for a caregiver. We encourage you to take advantage of the tips shared here and in the other posts in this series, which can make it a little easier for you.

Mojgan Haji, PharmD, BCGP, and Katherine Loomer, PharmD, BCACP, are clinical pharmacists. They manage Fallon Health’s pharmacy clinical programs.

Originally posted: December 2018
Last updated: February 2025

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