Medication Review: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Get It Right

When you take more than one medication, a medication review, a structured check-up of all your drugs to catch risks, overlaps, and useless prescriptions. Also known as drug reconciliation, it’s not just a formality—it’s a lifesaver. Think of it like a tune-up for your pill routine. Too many people assume their doctor knows everything they’re taking, but that’s rarely true. You might be on five prescriptions, three over-the-counter pills, and a handful of supplements. Without a clear look at the full list, dangerous overlaps happen—like mixing blood thinners with NSAIDs, or taking two drugs that both slow your heart rate.

A medication review, a structured check-up of all your drugs to catch risks, overlaps, and useless prescriptions. Also known as drug reconciliation, it’s not just a formality—it’s a lifesaver. isn’t just for seniors. It matters if you’re managing diabetes and high blood pressure, treating depression along with chronic pain, or using antibiotics and acid reducers together. The drug interactions, when two or more medications affect each other’s safety or effectiveness. Also known as pharmacological conflicts, it’s a silent risk that kills thousands every year. A 2023 study in the Journal of Patient Safety found that over 40% of hospital readmissions for older adults were tied to medication errors that a simple review could have caught. That’s not bad luck—it’s a system failure. And it’s fixable.

What does a real medication review include? It checks for duplicates—like taking both ibuprofen and naproxen, or two different pills with the same active ingredient. It spots red flags: a blood pressure drug that makes your potassium too high, or an antidepressant that shouldn’t be mixed with certain herbs. It asks if you still need every pill. Maybe your thyroid levels are normal now, or your pain is managed without that opioid. Maybe your doctor forgot to cancel an old prescription after switching you to a better option. A good review doesn’t just list drugs—it questions them.

And it’s not just about safety. It’s about simplicity. If you’re taking eight pills a day, a review might cut that down to three. Fewer pills mean fewer mistakes, less confusion, and lower costs. It also helps you spot gaps—like missing a bone-strengthening drug after a fracture, or not getting a statin even though your cholesterol is sky-high. Your pharmacist can do this. Your doctor should do this. But no one will unless you ask.

That’s why the posts here focus on real-world medication risks and fixes. You’ll find guides on spotting counterfeit drugs from foreign sites, how to handle recalls before they reach your shelf, and how to safely store or dispose of tricky meds like varenicline or ketorolac. You’ll see comparisons between similar drugs—like eplerenone vs. spironolactone or Rybelsus vs. Ozempic—so you know which one actually fits your body. There’s even advice on how to manage your meds during pregnancy or after a stroke, and how to avoid stacking painkillers that could hurt your liver or kidneys.

Whether you’re managing multiple conditions, helping an aging parent, or just tired of forgetting which pill goes when, a medication review is your best tool. It doesn’t require a fancy app or a hospital visit. Just a list of everything you take—and the courage to ask, "Do I really need all of this?"