YNHHS pharmacists are available to answer questions at retail pharmacies in New Haven, New London and North Haven, with another location to open at Bridgeport Hospital.
Sometimes it takes more than a glass of water to take your medicine. Knowing how much and when are important for your health and safety – especially when over a third of adults take three or more prescription medications daily.
Medication mistakes are more common than you might think. Yale New Haven Health pharmacist Kris Venables, RPh, who manages Yale New Haven Health Pharmacy at North Haven Medical Center, shared some tips on managing medications.
Miss a dose? Check with your pharmacist. “Sometimes taking your medication too close to your next dose, or completely skipping a dose can cause side effects,” Venables said.
To help organize your medications:
- Store meds where you see them every day. If you must take your medication with food, keep it in the kitchen. If you need to take it first thing in the morning, keep it on your nightstand with a glass of water. But be sure to keep medications out of the reach of children or pets; and don’t keep them in the bathroom, where they can be affected by moisture.
- Use pillboxes to help organize medication on a weekly or monthly basis. Pillboxes with morning, noon and night compartments can help you keep to a schedule. Some have removable compartments so you can take a day’s dose with you. Others have alarms that can be set to go off as a reminder to take your medication.
- Use your cell phone, an alarm clock or a virtual digital assistant such as Alexa or Siri to set up medication reminders.
- Keep a list, on paper or digitally, of your current medications, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements. This list can be a lifesaver in an emergency or when visiting your healthcare team for care.
Wondering if you can take all of your medications at the same time? Check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
“Some medications need to be taken at certain times of the day to work their best. And some vitamins should be separated from other medications so that they don’t lessen the effect of your medications,” Venables said.
Always take all your medication as prescribed by your doctor, even if you’re feeling better. If you’re on an antibiotic, you need to take every dose as directed to make sure the infection is completely cleared up. If you stop too soon, the bacteria could still be present in your body and you’ll feel sick again.
The same is true of maintenance meds. “Talk to your doctor before stopping any medication,” Venables said. “These medications play a role in preventing disease progression and long-term complications.”
Need more help managing your medications? Ask your pharmacist or primary care provider about scheduling an appointment for a comprehensive medication management review. During these visits, the pharmacist will look for possible interactions between your prescription and non-prescription medications and supplements and make sure everything you’re taking is aligned with the treatment plan.
“We can also help you make a schedule and provide specific advice that can make getting and taking your medication a little easier,” Venables said.
Some options include:
- Syncing your medications with auto refills through MyChart, which can reduce trips to the pharmacy
- Having medications delivered right to your door
Remember, your pharmacist is a great resource. Yale New Haven Health retail pharmacists are available to answer any questions in person at one of YNHHS’ retail pharmacy locations or by phone, 203-230-3940.
Learn more about YNHHS’ retail pharmacies and other services, including how to have your prescriptions transferred to Yale New Haven Health Pharmacy.
