Older adults take more medications than other age groups. Understanding what medications are for, and when and how to take them helps older adults stay healthy.

Health professionals can explain:

• When and how often to take medication
• If a medication should be taken with food or on an empty stomach
• If any food or drink should be avoided while taking a medication
• How long to take a medication
• What directions like "take as needed" mean
• If a medication has side effects
• What side effects might feel like
• What to do in case of side effects
• What medications might interact with each other

Pharmacies can help older adults with medications, including by:

• Answering medication questions
• Sharing information about generic drugs and programs that reduce medication costs
• Putting medications in easy-to-open containers
• Putting medications in pre-filled pill boxes
• Putting medications that are taken at the same time together in blister or bubble packs
• Putting large-print labels on medications
• Mailing or delivering medications

Medication lists, calendars or cards for each medication can list:

• The name of each medication
• What each medication is for
• When and how to take each medication
• Possible side effects for each medication

Alarms, timers, or text alerts on computers, cell phones or smartphones can remind someone when to take medications.

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