Bring the bottles: make your medication review more useful

Make the differences visible

The office asks new patients to bring all current medications. Include nonprescription products and supplements when preparing for a medication discussion. You do not need to judge which item “counts” before showing it to the clinician.

Put a note next to any instruction that differs from your routine. For example, write “label says twice daily; I need to discuss how I have been taking it.” A review works best when it describes real life, including costs, missed refills or confusing directions.

Use five fields for each item

You can copy this format into a notebook. Leave uncertain entries blank and bring the container so the team can help verify them.

• Name and strength shown on the label.
• How much and how often you actually take it.
• Who prescribed it and the pharmacy you use.
• Date of the most recent change, if you know it.
• Your question: purpose, directions, refill, cost or possible unwanted effect.

Keep old instructions from becoming current ones

Bring a hospital discharge medication list or recent specialist instructions when they differ from the bottles. Mark them with the visit date. Do not combine competing instructions into your own new plan. Ask the prescriber or pharmacist to clarify.

If a medicine was stopped, keep a separate note of the name, who stopped it and when. That makes the question specific without leaving an outdated item mixed into your current routine. Do not stop, restart or change doses based on this guide.

Finish with one working version

Before leaving, ask which list you should use now and what still needs confirmation. If two offices have given different directions, ask who will resolve the difference and how you will hear back.

Established patients can request refills through Healow. For time-sensitive questions, call the office rather than waiting on a message. This public website does not collect medication details; use the secure portal or a phone call.