Many seniors today (and Americans in general) take several medications to cure or improve different health problems. It is important to remember that taking multiple medications at one time can cause severe health problems. If the wrong combination is made, death can even result.

One of the best ways to make sure all of the medications a person may be taking are safe is to schedule a yearly appointment with his or her primary care physician to go over all medications. At this session the doctor can assess whether or not the medications can be combined. In addition, the patient can discuss the results he or she has had from the medications with the doctor and together they can assess what medications need to be continued, which ones should be changed, and which should be stopped.

No matter how many prescriptions a person takes, it is best to get them all from one pharmacy. Most pharmacies keep files on all the prescriptions their patients take and are alerted if there will be any conflicts. If a patient starts a new medication, when he or she goes to pick it up it is a good idea to ask the pharmacist about possible conflicts with other medications. This is an effective way to double-check that they have done their work. The patient should also ask about over-the-counter medicines and if any of them will conflict with their current medication.

Seniors with vision problems should color-code their medicine bottles so they can be sure of what they are taking. It is also a good idea to make one master list of all the medications a person is taking, when they should be taken, and what dosage. This makes it easy to be sure the medicine is being taken correctly. A patient who feels unsure about the medications he or she is taking can bring this list to his or her doctor or pharmacist and ask them to verify it. It is also a good idea to get a pill box or ice cube tray and portion out medications for each day; this prevents mix-ups. Some pill boxes even have special compartments for each time of the day, which helps those who have to take multiple dosages throughout the day.