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Why You Should Make a Medication List

“What medications do you take?”

You’re probably asked that question every time you visit a medical provider. Even if you visit the same provider every time, and he or she exclusively prescribed the medications you take, that question will be asked. And the accuracy of your answer is very important.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimate that there are presently 10,000 prescription medications that physicians can choose from today, and as new medications enter the market, that number continues to grow. In addition, about a third of American adults take five or more medications. That’s a lot to keep up with.

There are medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, acid reflux, blood clots, pain and inflammation, and more — and not all these medications play nice with one another. Adverse drug effects, or ADEs, account for almost 700,000 emergency department visits and about 100,000 hospitalizations each year, according to HHS estimates.

Some of these ADEs result from unintended side effects of the medication, such as an allergic reaction. Others, however, result from medications interacting in unfavorable ways with one another.

With that many people on that many medications, keeping a current list of all the medications, supplements, herbal remedies (such as ginkgo-biloba), over-the-counter medications and more that you take is essential.

Just write down the name of the medication, dosage and when you commonly take it. Include vitamin supplements, over-the-counter medications that you take, such as ibuprofen, and others. Refer to your list whenever you’re asked about the medications you take to make sure that you leave none out and that your medical provider — be it your primary care physician, a specialist or an emergency department physician — knows exactly what you’re taking so he or she better knows which medications might be contraindicated.

In some instances, the medications you take can tell the provider more about your previous diagnoses and medical history, which can help guide his or her treatment plan for you.

The list can also include other vital information, such as any known allergies you have, emergency contact information and more.

More advice about managing your medications is available in Tanner’s Health Library.

Primary Care




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