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Medication checklist H undreds of millions of people across the globe rely on medica- tions for their survival. In fact, the percentage of people using prescription medications may surprise people who work outside the health care industry. According to the National Center for Health Statistics' National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-16, nearly 46% of the population of the United States used prescription drugs in 2015-16. Prescription drugs may be vital to many people's survival, but they also can prove deadly if mismanaged. That's especially true for people taking more than one medication. Taking multiple medications each day may be necessary, but it's equally necessary that people taking more than one medication every day take steps to avoid drug interac- tions. Talk with your physician Discuss all medications with each of your doctors. Primary care physicians and specialists should be kept in the loop regarding which medications their patients are taking. Patients should never assume their doctors know every medication they're taking. When pre- scribed a new medication, mention to your prescribing doctor what else you are taking. Include prescription medica- tions but also over-the-counter, or OTC, drugs, supplements and even vitamins. Use a notes app on your smartphone to create a running list of your medications so you can easily access it during doc- tor's appointments. Read labels Prescription drugs and OTC medica- tions list potential side effects in different ways. Each prescription medication comes with a lengthy list of potential side effects, while OTC labels cite potential side effects in the "Warnings" section on their labels. Familiarize yourself with all potential side effects of a given medi- cation prior to taking it. Err on the side of caution and wait to speak with your physician before taking an OTC medica- tion you're unfamiliar with. One source, if possible Order all prescriptions from the same pharmacy. Ordering all prescriptions from the same pharmacy makes it easy to access all prescriptions. Pharmacists can look up all prescriptions and cross- check interactions that may result from taking certain medications at the same time. This safety net can be useful and convenient. Utilize online resources The Drug Interactions checker at drugs.com/drug_interactions.html is a convenient way to learn about the potential interactions that can result when taking more than one medication or even mixing it with certain foods or beverages. Drug interactions can be deadly, which only underscores the importance of being careful when taking more than one medication at a time. n How to avoid drug interactions Take a Virtual Tour Today! Lic# 216800977 1111 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.,Kentfield, CA 94904 | WindchimeOfMarin.com | (415) 482-4100 Parent-SorenSen Mortuary & CreMatory (FD12CR91) Proudly offering kind, professional cremation and burial arrangements to all we are privileged to serve. As an independently owned funeral home, we are able to provide you with personal attention and no pushy sales tactics. It is our goal to make a difficult process as easy as possible, for you and your loved ones. 850 Keokuk Street, Petaluma, California 94952 Ph: (707) 763-4131 Fax: (707) 763-4765 www.ParentSorensen.com JAMES M. SMITH (FDR1708) ANDREA L. RODGERS (FDR2369) JAMES R. GOTELLI (FDR2000) Stay home. Let us bring expert medical care to you. Skilled Home Health Care • Palliative (Comfort) Care • Hospice Call (415) 927.2273 • www.hbtb.org Our care teams can help you safely: • Recover from surgery • Manage chronic illness • Cope with end-of-life transitions A Marketing Supplement of the Marin Independent Journal | marinij.com Senior Style October 18, 2020 29