By Jim Miller
Q. I’m concerned that my 80-year-old mother is taking too many medications. She takes 10 different drugs prescribed by three different doctors, which I think is causing her some problems. She also struggles to keep up with all the drug costs. Any suggestions?
Concerned Daughter
A. There’s no doubt older Americans are taking more prescription medications than ever. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that around 40 percent of those 65 and older take five or more medications. And the more drugs a person takes, the higher the risk for problems.
‘Brown-bag review’
To get a handle on the medications your mom is taking, gather all her pill bottles — all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements — and put them in a bag and take them to her primary doctor or pharmacist for a thorough drug checkup. This “brown-bag review” will give you a chance to check for duplicate meds, excessive doses and dangerous interactions — and a chance for you to ask questions.
Medicare Part B covers free yearly medication reviews with a doctor through their annual wellness visits, and many Medicare Part D plans cover medication reviews with a pharmacist.
Also note that Saturday is “National Check Your Meds Day.” A number of pharmacies — Albertsons, Costco, CVS, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart and many independents — have agreed to support the effort. Ask your local pharmacy whether it is participating.
When you get your mom’s review, go over the basics for each medication or supplement, such as: What it’s for? How long she should take it? what does it costs? Are there side effects or potential interactions? Ask if there are any meds she can stop taking. Find out if there are any nondrug options that might be safer or whether she can switch to a lower dose.
To help your mom avoid future medication problems, make sure her primary doctor is aware of all the medications, over-the-counter drugs and supplements she takes. Also keep an updated list of everything she takes and share it with every doctor she sees.
Have your mom fill all her prescriptions at the same pharmacy and inform her pharmacist of any over-the counter, herbal or mail order prescriptions she’s taking so that there is complete oversight of her medications.
How to save
To cut your mom’s medication costs, there are a number of cost savings tips. For starters, find out if there are generic alternatives to the drugs she currently takes. Switching to generics can save between 20 percent and 90 percent.
Ask your mom’s prescribing doctors if any of the pills she takes could be cut in half. Pill splitting allows you to get two months’ worth of medicine for the price of one. And for the drugs she takes long-term, ask for a three-month prescription, which is usually cheaper than buying month-to-month.
Because drug prices can vary depending on where you buy them, try shopping around (GoodRX.com will help you compare drug prices at U.S. pharmacies), and find out if your mom’s drug insurance plan offers cheaper deals through preferred pharmacies or a mail-order service.
If your mom’s income is limited, she may qualify for drug assistance programs offered through pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and charitable organizations. Find these types of programs at www.BenefitsCheckUp.org.
Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or go to SavvySenior.org.
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