Common Medication Mistakes Older Adults Make and How to Avoid Them
- safemedseniors
- Mar 14
- 2 min read
Updated: May 30
1. Skipping Doses or Stopping Medications Too Soon without consulting your pharmacist or doctor.
The Mistake:Â Forgetting to take a dose or stopping a medication because you feel better.
How to Avoid It:
Use a pill box to track your medications.
Set reminders on your phone or ask a caregiver to remind you.
Never stop a medication without consulting your doctor, even if you feel better.
2. Mixing Medications/ taking multiple pills at once.
The Mistake:Â Taking multiple medications together without knowing if they interact.
How to Avoid It:
Check with your pharmacist before starting a new medication.
Be patient to receive adequate counseling from your pharmacist when drugs are being  dispensed to you.
Ask your pharmacist for pillbox that will specify the times of the day to take each medication if you are taking multiple medications.
Ask your pharmacist about drug interactions.
Use one pharmacy and identify the pharmacist for all your prescriptions and discuss possible interactions.
3. Taking the Wrong Dose
The Mistake:Â Accidentally doubling a dose or taking too little of a medication.
How to Avoid It:
Use a pill box to track when and how much to take your medications.
Ask for easy-to-read labels if you have trouble reading small print.
If in doubt, double-check with your pharmacist before taking a dose.
4. Crushing or Splitting Pills Incorrectly
The Mistake:Â Splitting or crushing medications that should be taken whole.
How to Avoid It:
Check with your pharmacist before splitting or crushing any pill.
Use a pill cutter if splitting is necessary.
Ask for a liquid or smaller dose if you have trouble swallowing pills.
5. Not Storing Medications Properly
The Mistake:Â Keeping medications in places that expose them to heat, humidity, or direct sunlight.
How to Avoid It:
Store medications in a cool, dry place—not the bathroom!
Ask your pharmacist for assistance before changing original bottles/ containers.
Keep medications in their original bottles to avoid confusion.
Check expiration dates regularly and discard old medications safely.
6. Using Expired Medications
The Mistake:Â Taking medications that are past their expiration date, which can be ineffective or even harmful.
How to Avoid It:
Check your medicine cabinet every few months for expired drugs.
Take your medication bag containing all your medications along with you when going for hospital appointment.
Dispose of old medications properly—ask your pharmacist about how to dispose expired and unused medications.
7. Not Asking Questions About New Medications
The Mistake: Starting a new medication without understanding the indication or how to take it properly.
How to Avoid It:
Check with your pharmacist if an ‘unfamiliar’ medication is being dispensed to you.
Ask your pharmacist about side effects, interactions, and proper use.
Request written instructions if needed.
Clarify if the medication should be taken with food or on an empty stomach.
8. Taking Someone Else’s Prescription
The Mistake:Â Using a medication prescribed to a spouse, family member, or friend.
How to Avoid It:
Never share or borrow medications—even if symptoms are similar.
Only take medications prescribed specifically for you.
Talk to your pharmacist about a medication review to ensure you are taking the right medications, at the right time and in the right way if you need more help.
Â