Taking medications

Pierre Tariot, MD, director of the Memory Disorders Center at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.

Question:  My husband takes a lot of medicines.  I want him to be responsible for taking them but he is beginning to make mistakes.  How can I get him to do a better job?   

Answer: Taking medications is complicated. Patients have to sort through bottles of medications, get the right tablets at the right time, adhere to the right dosing factors such as taking them with food.  When a patient takes more than one medication multiple times a day, the potential for errors is huge.  In addition, people with Alzheimer’s disease may forget to take their medications or might take extra doses.  To add to the problem, the person may be taking over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements that interact with the medications, causing confusion.

Early in the disease, some steps can avert potential medication mistakes.  Find out if any prescriptions can be eliminated.  Ask about consolidating as many as possible into a single dose that can be given once a day. Obtain a dated pillbox for your husband and fill it for him.  Then monitor whether the medications are taken appropriately.  For people who live alone there are electronic medication dispensers that can notify them to take their medications and contact help if incorrect doses are dispensed.

When individuals struggle to manage a dated pillbox, it is time for them to have assistance taking the medications. Administering your husband’s medications will assure he receives them correctly.