Managing medications safely: pharmacy and review options

If you take several medicines a day, you're far from alone. Plenty of older Australians manage a handful of tablets, sometimes more, for different conditions. That's normal, and the medicines are doing important work. But the more you take, the easier it is for something to slip: a double dose, a missed one, two medicines that don't get along, or a side effect that creeps up slowly.

The good news is there's real help available, much of it free, and your local pharmacist is one of the most underused experts in the whole health system. This guide covers practical ways to stay on top of your medicines and the official review services worth knowing about.

This is general information, not medical advice. For anything about your own medicines, talk to your GP or pharmacist.

Why medication safety matters more with age

A few things change as we get older that make medicines trickier to manage:

• The list grows. Taking many medicines at once (sometimes called polypharmacy) raises the chance of interactions and side effects.
• Bodies process drugs differently. A dose that was fine years ago might be too strong now.
• Memory and routine. It's easy to forget whether you took the morning tablets, especially if the day got busy.
• Side effects can masquerade as ageing. Dizziness, confusion, tiredness, or falls are sometimes blamed on getting older when a medicine is actually the cause.

None of this means your medicines are dangerous. It means they're worth reviewing now and then, and worth a bit of structure day to day.

Everyday habits that keep things on track

Small systems prevent most medication mix-ups. Try a few of these:

• Keep an up-to-date list of everything you take, including over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements. Carry a copy in your wallet and keep one on the fridge.
• Use a dose organiser. A weekly pill box with day and time compartments makes it obvious at a glance whether you've taken a dose.
• Ask your pharmacy about a blister pack. Many pharmacies will pack your medicines into sealed, labelled compartments by day and time (often called a Webster-pak or dose administration aid). It takes the guesswork out completely.
• Tie doses to daily routines, like brushing your teeth or meals, so they become automatic.
• Use one pharmacy where you can. When your pharmacist sees everything you take, they can spot interactions a single new script might cause.
• Don't stop or change a dose on your own. If something doesn't feel right, ring your pharmacist or GP first.

Your pharmacist can do more than dispense

It's worth thinking of your pharmacist as a free, walk-in medicines expert. You don't need an appointment to ask:

• Whether a new over-the-counter product is safe with your prescriptions
• What a side effect might be and whether it's worth seeing your GP about
• How to take a medicine properly (with food, time of day, and so on)
• Whether there's a cheaper or generic version of something you take

Browse pharmacies on our directory to find one near you. A good local pharmacy that knows you is genuinely valuable.

The Home Medicines Review: a free, in-depth check

If your medicines have become complicated, there's a formal service designed exactly for this, and it's free.

A Home Medicines Review (HMR) brings a specially trained (accredited) pharmacist to your home to go through every medicine you take in detail. They look for interactions, duplications, side effects, and anything you're finding hard to manage, then send a report and recommendations back to your GP. See the Department of Health and Aged Care on Home Medicines Reviews and healthdirect.

What it costs

A Home Medicines Review is fully funded by the Australian Government through Medicare. You don't pay anything out of pocket for it.

Who can have one

It's aimed at people living in the community (including your own home or some aged care settings) who have complex medication needs, for example taking multiple medicines for ongoing conditions. To start one, your GP needs to refer you, after confirming there's a genuine clinical need. You'll need a current Medicare or DVA card. See Services Australia and the MBS item.

How to ask for one

At your next GP appointment, say something like: "I'm taking a lot of medicines now and I'd like to be sure they're all still right for me. Can I have a Home Medicines Review?" Your GP can arrange the referral, and an accredited pharmacist will be in touch to visit.

It's a particularly good idea after a hospital stay, when several medicines have changed, or when you've noticed new side effects.

Other times to review your medicines

Even without a formal HMR, it's worth a fresh look at your medicine list when:

• You leave hospital. Doses and medicines often change, and the new list doesn't always match the old one. Have your GP or pharmacist reconcile them.
• A new medicine is added. Ask how it fits with what you already take.
• You start seeing a new specialist or GP. Bring your full list so nobody is prescribing in the dark.
• Something feels off. New dizziness, confusion, or a fall is always worth raising.

A quick checklist

• Keep one current list of all medicines, including supplements
• Use a weekly pill box or ask about blister packing
• Stick to one pharmacy so someone sees the whole picture
• Ask your pharmacist before adding any over-the-counter product
• Ask your GP about a free Home Medicines Review if your list is complex
• Review your medicines after any hospital stay
• Never stop or change a dose without checking first

Frequently asked questions

Is a Home Medicines Review really free?
Yes. It's funded through Medicare with no out-of-pocket cost to you. You'll need a referral from your GP and a current Medicare or DVA card.

Can I get my medicines packed so I don't get confused?
Many pharmacies offer dose administration aids (blister or Webster packs) that sort your medicines by day and time. Ask your pharmacy what they provide and whether there's a small fee.

I think a medicine is causing side effects. What should I do?
Don't stop it on your own. Ring your pharmacist or GP and describe what's happening. They'll advise whether to adjust it or look at alternatives.

Should I really use just one pharmacy?
Where you can, yes. It lets your pharmacist see everything you take and catch interactions a single new prescription might cause.

What if I just have a quick question, not a whole review?
Walk into your local pharmacy and ask. Pharmacists are happy to answer medicine questions without an appointment. Find one at pharmacies.

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For advice about your own medicines, including whether a review is right for you, speak to your GP or pharmacist.