Managing your Medications

As we age, we tend to take more and more medications. Also, growing older means that bodies may respond differently than when they were younger. You should be aware that some medications don’t mix well with other medications, including over-the-counter medications and herbal remedies. Many medications do not mix well with alcohol.

Changes in body weight can influence the amount of medicine you need to take and how long it stays in your system. Body circulation may slow down which can affect how quickly drugs get to the liver and kidneys which can affect how a drug breaks down and is eliminated from the body. Due to these changes, medicine may remain in your body longer and create a greater chance of interaction. 

Read the labels of you medications carefully and follow the directions. Talk to your healthcare professional about all medicines you take including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbals. Tell your doctor about any food or medicine allergies you have. Keep track of side effects and let your doctor know immediately about any unexpected symptoms or changes in the way you feel. 

Go through your medicine cabinet at least once a year to get rid of old or expired medicines. Have all of your medicines reviewed by your doctor at least once a year. Guard against potential problems with medicines. If you or someone you know may be having problems with medications, talk with someone you trust like your doctor or healthcare professional.

Medicare Part D
If you haven’t enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or if you are considering changing plans, here are some tips:

• If you have coverage through the VA or are enrolled in a Medicare “Advantage Plan” that offers prescription coverage and you are satisfied, you don’t need to do anything.
• If you currently have other prescription drug coverage such as coverage from a previous employer or from a supplemental plan that you pay for, find out if your insurance is “creditable,” meaning that it is offering a benefit at least as good as the one Medicare is offering. Your insurance company should be able to tell you this. If so, you will be able to join a Medicare plan later without penalty if you lose your current coverage. 
• If you are paying for your current prescription coverage, find out how much it is costing you per month. Even if you pay one premium that includes both health coverage and prescription coverage, your insurer should be able to tell you how much of the premium is going towards prescription coverage or how much less you would pay if you dropped that part of your coverage.
• If you do not have coverage that you can count on, or if your coverage is not “creditable,” or if you are not happy with how much you are paying for your coverage, you should look at whether one of the Medicare plans will be beneficial. 

More information and assistance is available through the local office of Senior Health
Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at 454-0062 or http://www.shiip.state.nc.us

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The Haywood Community Partnership is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation®, www.rwjf.org through its Community Partnerships for Older Adults (CPFOA), www.cpfoa.org national initiative. Community Partnerships for Older Adults is a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help communities develop leadership, innovative solutions, and options to meet the needs of older adults over the long term