By Kenneth Kronlun, MD
Department of Internal Medicine
Medical Director, Quality and Patient Safety
 

Whatever medical provider you see, whether it’s your PCP, a specialist, a provider at ReadyMED^SM, or a caregiver outside of Reliant, it’s always important to bring an updated list of all your medications, including dosages, to your appointment. Since any of these medical providers may need to update your prescription or give you a new one, it’s very important for them to know exactly what you are taking. This is also an ideal time to ask any questions about your prescriptions, discuss dosages and any side effects, and better understand how your medications are helping you.

While your Reliant medical record shows all medications prescribed by a Reliant provider, any prescriptions you have from a specialist or other doctors outside of Reliant aren’t necessarily in your record unless you tell us. And if you take over-the-counter medications or supplements each day, your medical provider also needs to know about them, as these can affect your health too.

Not informing your doctor of just one medication or supplement that you take (even an aspirin) can cause problems. That’s because many medications have the potential to interact with one another. In addition, if your medical provider is unaware of all the medications you are taking or what has been prescribed by another doctor, he or she may unknowingly write another prescription for the same or a similar medication. This can result in taking too much of one drug, which can be dangerous.

If you are a MyChart user, you will find a list of all the medications you take on the Medications tab in MyChart. You can update this list yourself and even add a personal note about them. Your MyChart medication list can also be easily printed out to bring to your next medical appointment. It’s also a good idea to keep a current copy of your medication list in your wallet in case you have to go to the emergency room. That way, your emergency room doctors will know exactly what you are taking.

Carefully keeping track of your medications (and supplements) and letting your medical provider know about any changes will go a long way in avoiding potential drug interactions and help keep you as healthy as possible. We encourage you to do it at every visit.