i

Safe Use 

of Medicines

Take your medicines 

the right way—each day!

From the National Institute on Aging

1

Table of Contents

Read this booklet for practical tips to make sure you are 

taking all your medicines the right way. Hear how other older 

adults practice medicine safety. Share this booklet with your 

family and friends. Pull it out now and again to remind

yourself about medicine safety.

Neighbors Gail and Alice 

talk about medicine safety 2

Your questions answered 6

Hints to get the best results 

from your medicines 8

Questions to ask about your medicines 11

You and your pharmacist 12

A list of your medicines 14

For more information 16 
2

Neighbors Gail and Alice 

talk about medicine safety

Alice: I’m glad to see you up and around, Gail. Your heart

attack gave us all a scare.

Gail: Me too, Alice. After I got out of the hospital, it 

was hard to keep track of all my medicines. Can you believe 

it? I take eight different pills every day! Some with breakfast, 

some at dinner, two at bedtime.

Alice: How do you keep track of all those pills?

Gail: First off—I learned about my medicines. I talked to 

my doctor—asked a lot of 

questions. I wanted to know 

what I was taking and why. 

Then I wrote down all the 

drug names, when I should 

take them, and how much I 

need to take. 

I keep one list taped to my 

kitchen cabinet and another 

in my purse. My medicine list 

comes in handy when I see 

the doctor and I want to ask 

about a certain pill.
3

Alice: What a good idea. James and I need to make a 

 list too! 

Gail: I have another tip. Buy a plastic pillbox. My husband 

helps me fill a week’s worth of pills at a time. I also leave 

notes on the fridge and by our bed that say, “Take your 

pills today!”

Alice: I’m going to try your medicine tips. I bet they will 

work for us. Gail, you sure aren’t taking any chances with 

your health.

Gail: Well—I take my pills just like the doctor says— 

that way I feel in charge of my good health.
4

Follow Gail’s tips to stay on 

track with your medicines

• Keep a list of all your medicines in a safe place. 

• Bring your list when you talk to your doctor

or pharmacist.

• Use a pillbox.

• Put notes around the house to remind you to take your

medicines each day.

• Talk to your doctor about all the medicines, remedies, 

and vitamins you use. Include any medicines you 

buy without a prescription. These are called 

OTC (over-the-counter) medicines. OTC drugs 

include things like cough syrup for a cold and antacid 

for an upset stomach.

Write down:

• the drug name, the doctor who prescribed it,

 and how much you take

• the name and amount of each remedy, vitamin, 

 and OTC drug you take

• the time of day you take each medicine
5

Older adults use more medicines than 

people in other age groups

You may be surprised to learn that people like Gail and Alice 

who are over 65 years old tend to take more medicines than 

any other age group. Because older adults may have a number 

of diseases or health problems at the same time, it is common 

for them to take many different kinds of drugs.
6

Your questions answered

Q. I’ve been taking the same prescription medicine for 

years. Even though I’m careful to take the same amount as 

always, the medicine is not working like it did in the past. 

What is happening?

A. As you age, normal changes happen in the body. You lose 

water and muscle tone. Also, your kidneys and liver may not 

pass the drugs through your system as quickly as when you 

were younger. This means that many medicines act differently 

in older people. Medicine may take longer to leave your system. 

Talk to your doctor if you think your medicine is not working 

as it should.

Q. Why should I talk to my doctor about the remedies, 

vitamins, and OTC (over-the-counter) medicines I take, 

along with my regular prescriptions?

A. It is very important to tell your doctor about all the 

medicines you take. Taking some OTC medicines with 

your prescription drugs can be dangerous. For example, you 

should not take aspirin if you are on Coumadin (warfarin) for 

heart problems.

Some OTC drugs can lead to serious problems if used too 

often or with certain other drugs. Combining drugs without 

talking to your doctor could make you sick.

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can affect how well your 

prescription medicines work. Be honest with your doctor 

about how much alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs you use.
7

Tell your doctor about new medicines you’re taking each 

time you visit. That goes for dentists, nurses, and physical 

therapists, too.

Q. I’m getting sick to my stomach a lot since I started my 

new pills. Some days I feel so sick I think about not taking 

the medicine. What should I do?

A. Talk to your doctor about any side effects before you stop 

taking any medicines. Your doctor may have tips that can help, 

such as eating a light snack with your pills. You may want to 

talk to your doctor about switching to a new medicine. 

Q. What does it mean to take medicines on an 

empty stomach?

A. Taking medicines on an empty stomach means that you 

should take your pills 2 hours before you eat or 2 hours after 

you eat.

Two examples: 

Eat first and take the pills 2 hours later.

If you eat breakfast at 8:00 in the morning, wait for 2 hours or 

until 10:00 in the morning before you take your pills. 

Take the pills first and eat 2 hours later.

If you take your pills at 8:00 in the morning, wait until 10:00

in the morning to eat. 

In both cases, your stomach will be empty enough for the 

pills to work.
8

Hints to get the best results 

from your medicines

Use this list to check off the tips you will try. Keep the list 

handy so you can read it each time you get a new medicine.

Keep a list

I will write down the names of my prescription drugs 

and any vitamins, remedies, or OTC drugs I am taking.

I will keep a list of the doctors who prescribed my 

medicines and the amount I take.

I will add any new medicines to my list.

Check labels

 I will check the label on my medicine before I start a new 

medicine. I will make sure it has my name on it and that I 

understand the instructions.

I will call the doctor or pharmacist if I have questions 

about how to take the medicine.

Take the medicine the right way

I will take the medicine in the exact amount (never more 

or less) listed on the label.

 I will take the medicine at the times the doctor told me to 

take it.
9

 I will not stop taking my prescription drug unless my 

 I wi ll not break or crush my pills unless my doctor or 

 

Learn about side effects

 I will talk to my doctor or pharmacist if I have questions 

 I will call my doctor right away if I am having side effects. 

Play it safe

 I will not give friends or family members medicine meant 

 I will not take medicine prescribed for others.

 I will not drink any beer, wine, or hard liquor while I am 

 I will not take any medicine that is too old (expired date 

 I wi ll tell my doctor and pharmacist if I have any 
10

Talk to your doctor and pharmacist— 

get the facts about your medicine

“I talk to my doctor each time she prescribes a new medicine. 

I take in my list of questions and go point by point. I also find 

my pharmacist helpful in answering my questions. I’m not 

one to take medicine without knowing the facts.”

 Anyone can become addicted to prescription pain 

medicines. Never take more medicine than the doctor 

prescribes. Read more about opioids and prescription 

pain medicines in Pain: You Can Get Help. Contact the 

National Institute on Aging to get this brochure.
11

Questions to ask about 

your medicines

Ask these questions before you leave your doctor’s office. 

Take this list with you each time you visit your doctor. 

Be sure to write your answers and keep them where you 

will see them.

Each time you visit, be sure to ask your doctor if you 

still need to be on all your medicines.

Ask your doctor:

1. What is the name of the medicine and why am I taking it?

2. What medical condition does this medicine treat?

3. How many times a day should I take this medicine? How 

much medicine should I take?

4. How long will it take this medicine to work? When should I

stop taking it?

5. What should I do if I miss a dose?

6. Are there any side effects I should know about? When 

should I call you if I am having side effects?

7. Can I safely mix this medicine with the remedies, 

vitamins, and OTC drugs I am taking?
12

You and your pharmacist

“The labels were so 

hard to read. I asked my 

pharmacist to use bigger 

type on the label. He did 

it gladly. What a help!”

Before you leave the pharmacy, be sure to:

• Make sure the label has your name on it.

• Make sure you can read and understand the directions on

the bottle.

• Make sure the directions are the same as your doctor 

said. If not, tell the pharmacist.

• Ask for an easy-open cap if you have trouble opening 

the bottle. Be sure to keep all medicines out of reach 

of children.

• Find out if the medicine needs be stored in a special place, 

such as the refrigerator.

• Should I take this medicine with food? Is there anything

I should not eat or drink when taking this medicine?

• Is there a generic (non-brand name) version of the drug

I can take?
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• Is it safe for me to drive while taking this medicine?

• What does “as needed” mean?

Reading a Prescription Label

Pharmacy

Address, USA

Pharmacy name, address, 

and phone number

Dr. J. Smith 1/11/2018 Date filled

Doctor’s name

Rx#: 636226 Prescription number

Jane Doe

Main Street, USA

Patient’s name 

and address

Take 1 capsule by mouth every day 

Name of medicine 10 mg tablet Medication name 

and quantity

Refills: 3 Quantity: 30

Discard after 12/11/2018

How to take the 

medication

Number of refills 

allowed by certain date

Date medication should 

no longer be taken

Your prescription label may have a different format than the 

one shown. The prescription number is usually printed in the 

upper left corner of the label. 
14

A list of your medicines

Here is a form you can use. Go over your medicine list with 

your doctor at each visit. Talk to your pharmacist if you 

have questions about your medicines. Take this brochure 

with you.

Pharmacy name:

Phone number:

Name of medicine Name of prescribing doctor Amount I take When & how often What it’s for Date started Color/shape

15
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For more information

Contact the following organizations to learn more about 

using medicines safely.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE/toll-free)

1-877-486-2048 (TTY/toll-free)

www.medicare.gov

Eldercare Locator

1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)

www.eldercare.acl.gov

Food and Drug Administration

1-888-463-6332 (toll-free)

druginfo@fda.hhs.gov 

www.fda.gov

National Center for Complementary and 

Integrative Health

1-888-644-6226 (toll-free)

1-866-464-3615 (TTY/toll-free)

info@nccih.nih.gov

www.nccih.nih.gov
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Partnership for Prescription Assistance

1-888-477-2669 (1-888-4PPA-NOW/toll-free)

www.pparx.org

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration

1-877-726-4727 (toll-free)

1-800-487-4889 (TTY/toll-free)

https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits Administration

1-877-222-8387 (toll-free)

www.va.gov/health-care/refill-track-prescriptions

To learn more about health and aging:

National Institute on Aging 

Information Center

1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)

1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

niaic@nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov

Visit www.nia.nih.gov/health to find more health and aging 

information from NIA and subscribe to email alerts. Visit 

https://order.nia.nih.gov to order free print publications.
NIH Publication No. 18-AG-7348

December 2018