What to Do if You Don’t Understand Your Medications

Understanding your medications can feel overwhelming — especially if you've been prescribed multiple drugs with complex names and confusing instructions. Whether it's unclear dosage times, side effects, or even what a medication is for, you're not alone. Medication confusion is common, but it can lead to serious health risks if not addressed.

Here’s what you can do if you’re unsure about your prescriptions:

🔍 1. Ask Your Pharmacist — Don’t Guess

Pharmacists are medication experts and your first line of defense against mistakes. If you're unsure about what a medication is for, how and when to take it, or what side effects to watch for, ask directly. Most pharmacies offer private consultations — often free of charge.

📋 2. Request a Printed Medication Summary

Many pharmacies can provide a printout listing medication names (brand + generic), purposes, dosing schedule, and key warnings/interactions. Keep this with you — especially during doctor visits or hospital stays.

🕒 3. Use a Medication Schedule or Pill Organizer

If you’re on multiple medications, create a simple chart or use a weekly pill organizer. It can prevent double-dosing or missed medications. You can also ask your pharmacist to help you “sync” your medications.

📱 4. Use a Medication Review Service

Online services like Brown Bag Med let you upload photos of your medications and receive a personalized review by a licensed pharmacist. We’ll check for dangerous interactions, unnecessary duplicates, confusing instructions, and suggest safer alternatives.

🧠 5. Know the Red Flags

Reach out immediately if you were given a medication you don’t recognize, your pill looks different than usual, you experience unusual side effects, or instructions contradict what your doctor said. Your safety always comes first.

✅ Take Control of Your Treatment

You deserve to understand what goes into your body. Don’t be afraid to ask, clarify, or double-check. Medication should help you — not confuse you.