Is your medication working for you? Signs you need a medication review

A medication review is a comprehensive assessment of all medications a patient is taking. This includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and herbal remedies. This ensures that you are taking the right medications, at the right doses, and that they are safe and effective.

As your health needs change, the body’s response to medications also changes. Sometimes, medications might start causing problems or become ineffective. This calls for the need to review them, especially if you are managing a chronic condition. A medication review is, therefore, an opportunity to step back and reassess your treatment. This is done to ensure your medicine is still working for you.

What Happens During a Medication Review?

A medication review, typically done by a pharmacist, involves:

1. Reviewing all your current prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements. This will help identify interactions, duplicates, or outdated prescriptions.
2. Checking for side effects and other concerns, such as missed doses, and difficulty taking your medications.
3. Discussing your symptoms, goals, and current health concerns to assess if your treatment is still appropriate.
4. Optimizing your therapy by adjusting doses, suggesting alternatives, or making recommendations to stop certain drugs.
5. Scheduling follow-up appointments to monitor how the changes are working. Certain lab tests may be recommended depending on the health condition. Everything should be documented so that you are provided with an updated medication plan.

Signs you need a medication review

1. New or worsening side effects:
   Are you suddenly feeling nauseous, dizzy, or more tired than usual? New or worsening symptoms could mean your body is reacting differently to your treatment. It could be a sign of a drug interaction, incorrect dosage, or that the drug is no longer suitable.
2. Polypharmacy:
   If you are taking five or more medicines, there is a high risk of drug-drug interactions or duplication of therapy. A medication review will help to simplify your regimen by removing unnecessary treatments. This will reduce your pill burden and the risk of adverse effects.
3. Your symptoms are not under control:
   If you are experiencing persistent high blood pressure, uncontrolled pain, uncontrolled blood sugar, worsening anxiety, etc., it is time to get a medication review. You might require dosage modification, a change of medication, or additional treatments.
4. It’s been over a year since your last review:
   Even if you are stable and not experiencing any issues, it is advisable to have your chronic medication reviewed at least once every year. If your health condition changes or new medications are added, you will require more frequent reviews (every 3 to 6months).
5. A new health condition:
   A new diagnosis, e.g., diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, or heart disease, alters the way the body processes drugs and affects how your medications work. Such changes require medication changes to ensure your treatment reflects your current health status.
6. Struggling with adherence or forgetting to take your medication:
   If you are not sure why you are taking certain medications, you will struggle with adherence. A medication review will help you to understand the purpose of the medicine you are taking, resulting in better adherence. It will also help to identify a complicated regimen, and hence provide alternative formulations that have easier dosing schedules.
7. Feeling generally unwell or off:
   A persistent feeling of being lethargic or “not yourself” could result from medication side effects or drug interactions. A medication review could provide answers.
8. Significant lifestyle changes:
   Changes in weight, dietary habits, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits require a medication review. Food and alcohol influence how the body metabolizes drugs. On the other hand, weight changes and physical activity affect various health conditions and their treatments.

How to prepare for your first medication review

1. Gather all your medication: Bring everything with you, including prescription medicines, herbal supplements, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins. This will help your pharmacist spot duplicates, interactions, and outdated prescriptions.
2. Make a list of all medications: Write down the name of each drug, why you take it, how often, and what time you take it, and any side effects. This information will help guide the conversation.
3. Keep an updated list of allergies or adverse drug reactions.
4. Prepare your questions: Think about what you need to ask. This includes: Do I still need the drug? Are there cheaper alternatives? What should I do if I miss a dose? What side effects should I watch out for?
5. Reflect on how you are feeling: Note any symptoms, mood changes, and physical changes.
6. Mention food and lifestyle habits: Alcohol, smoking, and some foods interact with some medicines. Tell your pharmacist the truth so that they can guide you appropriately.
7. Book an appointment and ensure that you schedule enough time to talk through everything. This is important so that you don’t rush through your medication reviews.

Why ongoing reviews matter

1. They help prevent harmful interactions. Many patients see multiple specialists who issue different prescriptions, which may result in dangerous interactions.
2. They help reduce medication overload by deprescribing unnecessary drugs. Some people stay on medications they no longer need.
3. They help save money by identifying unnecessary or duplicate medications.
4. They empower patients by presenting an opportunity to ask questions and understand their treatment better, and hence improve adherence.
5. They identify side effects and determine if symptoms are medication-related. Some side effects are often mistaken for new health problems.
6. They help prevent complications by fine-tuning treatments for chronic conditions such as hypertension, asthma, and diabetes.

Final Dose of Clarity

A medication review is a simple yet powerful step towards safer and more effective care. Your medications should help and not harm you. If you are on long-term treatment, it is good to have a periodic medication review even if you do not have any obvious issues. Your doctor will advise how often you need to get this done, depending on individual circumstances. Do not wait until problems arise. Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider today—it might be the check-in your health has been waiting for.

Disclaimer: Health information shared here is for education only. Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist before making decisions about your health or medications.