AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Medicines: Use 

Them Safely

When Jerry, age 71, came home from the 

drug store with his latest prescription, he 

placed all his pill bottles on the kitchen 

counter and counted them. “I take five 

different medications, and you take four,” 

he said to his wife. “We need a system. 

We need to know what medicines we 

have, what they’re for, and when we 

should take them.” 

Modern medicine has made our lives 

better in many ways. It has helped us 

live longer, healthier lives. But people 

over 65 have to be 

careful when taking 

medications, 

especially when 

they’re taking 

many different 

drugs.

What Are Medicines? 

What Are Drugs?

Some people refer to the pills, 

liquids, creams, or sprays they take 

as “medicine,” and other people call 

them “drugs.” Both words can mean:

F Medicines you get from a pharmacy 

with a doctor’s prescription

F Pills, liquids, or creams you buy 

without a prescription to use now 

and then, for example, for aches 

and pains, colds, or heartburn

F Vitamins or dietary supplements 

you take regularly 

Drugs you get without a doctor’s 

prescription are called over-the-counter 

medicines. Because mixing certain 

medicines can cause problems, be sure 

to let your doctor know about all the 

prescription and over-the-counter drugs 

you are taking.

At Your Doctor’s Office

If you’ve gone to your doctor because 

you don’t feel well, the doctor might 

decide a medicine will help and will 

write a prescription. Be sure you: 

F Tell your doctor or nurse about all 

the medicines you take whenever a 

new drug is prescribed.
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Medicines: Use 

Them Safely

When Jerry, age 71, came home from the 

drug store with his latest prescription, he 

placed all his pill bottles on the kitchen 

counter and counted them. “I take five 

different medications, and you take four,” 

he said to his wife. “We need a system. 

We need to know what medicines we 

have, what they’re for, and when we 

should take them.” 

Modern medicine has made our lives 

better in many ways. It has helped us 

live longer, healthier lives. But people 

over 65 have to be 

careful when taking 

medications, 

especially when 

they’re taking 

many different 

drugs.

What Are Medicines? 

What Are Drugs?

Some people refer to the pills, 

liquids, creams, or sprays they take 

as “medicine,” and other people call 

them “drugs.” Both words can mean:

F Medicines you get from a pharmacy 

with a doctor’s prescription

F Pills, liquids, or creams you buy 

without a prescription to use now 

and then, for example, for aches 

and pains, colds, or heartburn

F Vitamins or dietary supplements 

you take regularly 

Drugs you get without a doctor’s 

prescription are called over-the-counter 

medicines. Because mixing certain 

medicines can cause problems, be sure 

to let your doctor know about all the 

prescription and over-the-counter drugs 

you are taking.

At Your Doctor’s Office

If you’ve gone to your doctor because 

you don’t feel well, the doctor might 

decide a medicine will help and will 

write a prescription. Be sure you: 

F Tell your doctor or nurse about all 

the medicines you take whenever a 

new drug is prescribed.
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Medicines: Use 

Them Safely

When Jerry, age 71, came home from the 

drug store with his latest prescription, he 

placed all his pill bottles on the kitchen 

counter and counted them. “I take five 

different medications, and you take four,” 

he said to his wife. “We need a system. 

We need to know what medicines we 

have, what they’re for, and when we 

should take them.” 

Modern medicine has made our lives 

better in many ways. It has helped us 

live longer, healthier lives. But people 

over 65 have to be 

careful when taking 

medications, 

especially when 

they’re taking 

many different 

drugs.

What Are Medicines? 

What Are Drugs?

Some people refer to the pills, 

liquids, creams, or sprays they take 

as “medicine,” and other people call 

them “drugs.” Both words can mean:

F Medicines you get from a pharmacy 

with a doctor’s prescription

F Pills, liquids, or creams you buy 

without a prescription to use now 

and then, for example, for aches 

and pains, colds, or heartburn

F Vitamins or dietary supplements 

you take regularly 

Drugs you get without a doctor’s 

prescription are called over-the-counter 

medicines. Because mixing certain 

medicines can cause problems, be sure 

to let your doctor know about all the 

prescription and over-the-counter drugs 

you are taking.

At Your Doctor’s Office

If you’ve gone to your doctor because 

you don’t feel well, the doctor might 

decide a medicine will help and will 

write a prescription. Be sure you: 

F Tell your doctor or nurse about all 

the medicines you take whenever a 

new drug is prescribed.
7 8 

F Take your medicine until it’s finished 

or until your doctor says it’s okay to stop.

F Don’t take medicines prescribed 

for another person or give yours to 

someone else.

F Don’t take medicine in the dark. 

To avoid making a mistake, turn your 

light on before reaching for your pills. 

F Check the expiration dates on your 

medicine bottles. Your pharmacist can 

probably tell you how to safely get rid of 

medicine you no longer need or that is 

out of date. The pharmacist might be 

able to dispose of it for you.

F Make sure you store all medicines 

and supplements out of sight and out of 

reach of children. And don’t take your 

medicines in front of young children. 

They might try to copy you. 

Shopping for Medicines 

Online

Medicines can cost a lot. If you have 

a drug plan through your insurance, you 

can probably save money by ordering 

yours from them rather than at your 

neighborhood pharmacy. Or, you might 

be thinking about buying yours on the 

Internet. But how can you tell which 

websites are safe and reliable? The Food 

F Read and save in one place all 

written information that comes with 

the medicine.

F Take your medicine in the exact 

amount and at the time your doctor 

prescribes.

F Call your doctor right away if you 

have any problems with your medicine 

or if you are worried that it might be 

doing more harm than good. Your 

doctor may be able to change your 

prescription to a different one that 

will work better for you. 

F Use a memory aid to take your 

medicines on time. Some people use 

meals or bedtime as reminders to take 

their medicine. Other people use charts, 

calendars, and weekly pill boxes. Find 

a system that works for you.

F Do not skip doses of medication or 

take half doses to save money. Talk with 

your doctor or pharmacist if you can’t 

afford the prescribed medicine. There 

may be less costly choices or special 

programs to help with the cost of 

certain drugs.

F Avoid mixing alcohol and medicine. 

Some medicines may not work correctly 

or may make you sick if taken with 

alcohol. 
7 8 

F Take your medicine until it’s finished 

or until your doctor says it’s okay to stop.

F Don’t take medicines prescribed 

for another person or give yours to 

someone else.

F Don’t take medicine in the dark. 

To avoid making a mistake, turn your 

light on before reaching for your pills. 

F Check the expiration dates on your 

medicine bottles. Your pharmacist can 

probably tell you how to safely get rid of 

medicine you no longer need or that is 

out of date. The pharmacist might be 

able to dispose of it for you.

F Make sure you store all medicines 

and supplements out of sight and out of 

reach of children. And don’t take your 

medicines in front of young children. 

They might try to copy you. 

Shopping for Medicines 

Online

Medicines can cost a lot. If you have 

a drug plan through your insurance, you 

can probably save money by ordering 

yours from them rather than at your 

neighborhood pharmacy. Or, you might 

be thinking about buying yours on the 

Internet. But how can you tell which 

websites are safe and reliable? The Food 

F Read and save in one place all 

written information that comes with 

the medicine.

F Take your medicine in the exact 

amount and at the time your doctor 

prescribes.

F Call your doctor right away if you 

have any problems with your medicine 

or if you are worried that it might be 

doing more harm than good. Your 

doctor may be able to change your 

prescription to a different one that 

will work better for you. 

F Use a memory aid to take your 

medicines on time. Some people use 

meals or bedtime as reminders to take 

their medicine. Other people use charts, 

calendars, and weekly pill boxes. Find 

a system that works for you.

F Do not skip doses of medication or 

take half doses to save money. Talk with 

your doctor or pharmacist if you can’t 

afford the prescribed medicine. There 

may be less costly choices or special 

programs to help with the cost of 

certain drugs.

F Avoid mixing alcohol and medicine. 

Some medicines may not work correctly 

or may make you sick if taken with 

alcohol. 
7 8 

F Take your medicine until it’s finished 

or until your doctor says it’s okay to stop.

F Don’t take medicines prescribed 

for another person or give yours to 

someone else.

F Don’t take medicine in the dark. 

To avoid making a mistake, turn your 

light on before reaching for your pills. 

F Check the expiration dates on your 

medicine bottles. Your pharmacist can 

probably tell you how to safely get rid of 

medicine you no longer need or that is 

out of date. The pharmacist might be 

able to dispose of it for you.

F Make sure you store all medicines 

and supplements out of sight and out of 

reach of children. And don’t take your 

medicines in front of young children. 

They might try to copy you. 

Shopping for Medicines 

Online

Medicines can cost a lot. If you have 

a drug plan through your insurance, you 

can probably save money by ordering 

yours from them rather than at your 

neighborhood pharmacy. Or, you might 

be thinking about buying yours on the 

Internet. But how can you tell which 

websites are safe and reliable? The Food 

F Read and save in one place all 

written information that comes with 

the medicine.

F Take your medicine in the exact 

amount and at the time your doctor 

prescribes.

F Call your doctor right away if you 

have any problems with your medicine 

or if you are worried that it might be 

doing more harm than good. Your 

doctor may be able to change your 

prescription to a different one that 

will work better for you. 

F Use a memory aid to take your 

medicines on time. Some people use 

meals or bedtime as reminders to take 

their medicine. Other people use charts, 

calendars, and weekly pill boxes. Find 

a system that works for you.

F Do not skip doses of medication or 

take half doses to save money. Talk with 

your doctor or pharmacist if you can’t 

afford the prescribed medicine. There 

may be less costly choices or special 

programs to help with the cost of 

certain drugs.

F Avoid mixing alcohol and medicine. 

Some medicines may not work correctly 

or may make you sick if taken with 

alcohol.