SAFER MEDICINE READING
A family medicine list: what to bring when you need a pharmacist to check several medicines
Rather than relying on a remembered brand name, make a list of the name, per-unit strength, form, actual directions, prior reactions and every non-prescription product for a pharmacist or clinician to review.
Why a list is safer than memory
When prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, herbs and supplements are used together, memory can miss duplicate ingredients, changed strengths or medicines that were stopped. FDA public advice is to maintain and update a medicine list, and show it during medical, dental, rehabilitation, emergency and medicine-change encounters. The list helps a professional see what needs checking; it does not decide how an individual should use a medicine.
Record at least six fields for each product
Record the brand or non-proprietary name on the pack; active ingredient; declared strength per tablet, capsule, device or 5 mL; dosage form and route, such as tablet, capsule, drops, inhaler, patch or injection; the actual directions and timing written on the prescription label; and an approximate start, stop or change date. If the text cannot be read, bring the pack or a clear image of its text to the pharmacy. A description such as ‘small white pill’ is not a medicine identity.
List non-prescription products and past reactions separately
Cold medicines, pain medicines, stomach medicines, eye drops, vitamins, minerals, herbals, alcohol and common food-related questions can all matter in a review. Separately record known allergies or prior problems: the exact product, what happened and when. Do not write only ‘allergy’ without a useful clue. Breathing difficulty, swelling of the face or throat, fainting or other emergency symptoms require local urgent help rather than a website search.
If the pack looks different, ask before changing anything
A product with the same pharmacy or non-proprietary name can look different because of its strength, dosage form, packaging, supplier or label version. Appearance and markings are clues for a question, not proof of authenticity, authorisation or interchangeability. If the name, strength, form, colour, size, markings or package differs from a previous supply, ask a pharmacist to check it before changing, stopping, combining or returning to an old medicine.
A handover method for older adults and carers
Keep one paper copy at home and another with the person or a trusted carer. Update the date after a new prescription, strength change, stop, hospital discharge or possible adverse effect. Bring the packs, prescription labels and list to appointments. Reading difficulty, swallowing difficulty, memory concerns, visual changes or trouble distinguishing appearances should also be shared with the pharmacist or clinician because they change what needs explaining and checking.
What this list cannot replace
It cannot answer how many units to take today, whether an exact tablet can be split, whether atorvastatin and rosuvastatin can be taken on the same day, whether a medicine should be changed or whether genetic testing is appropriate. Its role is to make those questions reviewable with complete information. A prescriber or pharmacist must confirm any prescription change against the current target-market label and the person's situation.
PRIMARY REFERENCE
Source evidence
Each entry identifies its market, document type, access mode and most recent review date. Public access does not make a document applicable to every market or person. Read the review method.
- FDA: Create and Keep a Medication List for Your Health ↗reviewed 2026-08-20
- FDA: 5 Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults ↗reviewed 2026-08-20
- FDA: Stop · Learn · Go: tips for talking with your pharmacist ↗reviewed 2026-08-20
- FDA: Drug Interactions: What You Should Know ↗reviewed 2026-08-20