Prescription instructions make me crazy, and it is evident that medication mismanagement is a fact of life for the elderly. Let’s look at some examples…

Take one tablet by mouth daily. No Latin here. Clear as a bell, right? Let’s think for a moment. Is it better to take this one tablet early in the morning, around mid-day, or just before bedtime? Or does it even matter? Do I need to take it at the same time every day to maximize its effect? Should I take it with food? How will this medication interact with the other medications I am already taking?

Take one capsule by mouth three times daily for ten days until all are taken. Hmmm. If I divide a 24-hour day into three segments, I’ll take this medicine every 8 hours. But I can better remember to take it if I can coordinate with my meals and be done in less than 12 hours. Will my results be the same? And if I take one capsule at breakfast with the other medicine I’m already taking at breakfast, will there be any negative side effects?

I have a few years left before I will be considered elderly. I am not language-challenged in any way and am considered fairly intelligent. However, I grapple with these dilemmas every time I get a prescription filled. How in the world will I comprehend it all when I’m older, taking numerous prescriptions every day, and suffering from on-set dementia?

Isn’t it just as easy to write medication instructions that can be understood as it is to confuse the patient?

Take one tablet by mouth 4 times a day, after meals and at bedtime. Aha! I understand this one! I don’t have to divide 24 hours by four and remember to take a tablet every six hours! I can take one after breakfast, one after lunch, and one after dinner. Then I can take a 4^th tablet just before I climb into bed. Simple! Now…if I just don’t skip lunch….

I can certainly understand why many elderly patients have an ongoing struggle with deciphering medication instructions. Many miscalculate and either over- or under-medicate, risking serious repercussions. Fortunately, CarpeVITA will soon offer a simple and cost-effective solution that takes the guesswork out of following a pill regimen.

In the mean time, you can take advantage of the Medication Tracking Sheet on our website.