Is a Medication Review Right for You?

One of my greatest challenges with starting AshbyRx is helping potential clients to understand the purpose of a medication review and how it might help them. So if you will indulge me, I would like to go through a quick summary of a Complete Medication Review with AshbyRx.

1. We will make an appointment and plan to discuss medicines for 1-2 hours at your home or other location. I want to start by asking about your concerns and goals. Then I will ask for a review of what you currently take both on a regular and as needed (PRN) basis. This should include all prescription medications, over-the-counter medications (headache/cold/allergy, etc.). I will also ask you about any herbal medicines or vitamins and supplements.

2. At this point we can differentiate what you need. If you take just a few medicines or only want answers to a few questions I can quote you a lower price. If you are on many medications or have complex problems and are concerned about the price of the review, I can get you to submit a medication list electronically to me prior to my visit. If you want me to go through each medicine step-by-step, I can do that as well.

3. My next job is to begin a medication list that includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, supplements, vitamins, and herbals. For best results we will ask you to be honest. Are you using CBD oil or cannabis, do you drink alcohol or smoke, do you take Viagra or other ED drugs, do you take something to go to sleep? We often don’t want to share this information with our doctors, yet it can be essential in understanding which drugs are safe.

4. I will prepare a complete list of your medications with directions for taking them. I will also list a reason why you are taking each medicine and discuss this with you. A copy of a prepared list will be provided for both you and your doctors so that you have the information each time you have an appointment.

a. This is typically where my work begins. Often people are put on medications that they continue with few checks for long periods of time. I may make recommendations about changing to newer drugs with fewer side effects, less expensive options, or even ask if you and your doctor should consider de-prescribing a medication depending on your goals.

b. Once the list is complete, I will screen for drug-drug interactions and look for drug-disease interactions. I will also look to see if they medications and doses are age appropriate.

c. Finally, I will examine how you take your medication. At what time, are you taking the medicine with food, do you limit how you take the medicine due to concerns about cost or sided effect? This is an opportunity for you to ask questions and find out when you should or should not modify the way you take medicine. If cost is a concern, I can often help you find programs to help reduce the cost of expensive medicines or recommend lower cost options.

5. I will then take some time to look at the medicine bottles that you have on hand and make sure that they are not expired. If you have a lot of expired or unsuitable medicine we can come up with a plan for disposing of them. (*AshbyRx is not licensed to dispose controlled substances for others, but we will get you information to make sure they are sent to a safe place, usually the local Sheriff’s office). We can clean out all your old medicine together to make it easier to keep track of what you are taking. We can also come up with a list of old medicines that you sometimes take that you need to replace.

6. With this done I will prepare a medication action plan. This will be a letter to you and/or your provider that includes any concerns that come up during our conversation. I will help you organize your medication in a way that makes it easy for you to take your medicine every day.

7. When we are finished, I will give you a refrigerator magnet to place your medicine list and contact information in. You can take that list with you every time you go to the doctor and update the list as medicine changes. I will also give you a medication action plan that will include any recommended changes that you should discuss with your provider.

What I won’t do is have you change any medications immediately. Instead I will recommend that you make any changes only after consulting your doctor. *You should never change or discontinue medication without talking to your provider.

What is in it for you. I can help you assure that all the medication you are taking is safe and appropriate. This is incredibly important as we age, so a medication review should be done yearly or every couple of years, after each hospitalization, or if you are concerned about side effects of medications. I can make recommendations to reduce the amount of medicine you take and reduce the cost of medications. I can make recommendations that can reduce your risk of falls. I can help you come up with a plan to take your medicine that is easier and safer for you. I can help you gain confidence in the role your medicine plays in promoting your health.