Medicines

Medicines

“Write down the name and important facts about each medicine, vitamin, and herb you take. Note any side effects or problems you have taking your medicines”.1

Umbrella

What may the Medicines Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Drugs
  • Medications
  • Medicines
  • Nonprescription Drugs/Medicines
  • OTC Drugs/Medicines
  • Over-the-Counter Drugs/Medicines (OTC)
  • Pills
  • Prescription Drugs/Medicines
  • Vaccines

Prescription Medicines

What are prescription medicines?

DotS the definition of prescription medicines may vary. In Taking Medicines Safely As You Age: What Are Medicines? What Are Drugs? the (United States) National Institute on Aging’s (NIA) definition is:

“Prescription drugs are medicines that you can get only with a doctor’s order; for example, pills to lower your cholesterol or an asthma inhaler”.2

Nonprescription Medicines

What are nonprescription medicines?

DotS the definition of nonprescription medicines may vary. In Understanding Over-the-Counter Medicines the (United States) Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) definition is:

“Over-the-counter medicine is also known as OTC or nonprescription medicine. All these terms refer to medicine that you can buy without a prescription. They are safe and effective when you follow the directions on the label and as directed by your health care professional”.3

The NIA’s definition is:

“OTC medications can be purchased without a prescription; for example, aspirin or lubricating eye drops”.4

Side Effects

What are side effects?

DotS the definition of side effects may vary. The NIA’s definition is:

“Unwanted or unexpected symptoms or feelings that occur when you take medicine are called side effects”.5

What are some side effects?

The NIA explain:

“Side effects can be relatively minor, such as a headache or a dry mouth. They can also be life-threatening, such as severe bleeding or damage to the liver or kidneys. The side effects of some medications can also affect your driving”.6

In Finding and Learning About Side Effects (Adverse Reactions): From Minor To Life Threatening – Reducing Your Risk the FDA elaborate on:

“There are several ways to learn about side effects for your prescription drugs and to reduce your risk of experiencing a side effect.

  • Ask your health care professional about any possible side effects and what, if any steps should be taken to reduce the risk when you are prescribed a drug. For example, your health care professional may recommend taking the drug with food to lower the chance of getting nausea or to not take the drug with other drugs
  • Ask your health care professional for information about the drug when you receive your prescription…
  • Read the pharmacy label and any stickers that may be attached to the prescription bottle or box…

Prescription drug information on side effects is available on FDA’s Drugs@FDA database and FDA’s FDALabel database”.7

Drug Interactions

May drugs have interactions?

Yes. In Understanding Drug Interactions the (Australian) NPS MedicineWise [National Prescribing Service] explain:

“There may be times when one medicine can mix badly with another in your body. This can change how well the medicines work or their side effects. This is known as an interaction. Interactions also happen when medicines mix with certain foods or drinks (including alcohol)”.8

Dietary Supplements

May some dietary supplements be harmful?

In Using Dietary Supplements Wisely: What the Science Says About the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements the (United States) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) elaborate on:

  • “Some dietary supplements can be good for your health, while others haven’t been proven to work”.9

My Medicines

Is there a record keeper in which to record medicines taken?

In Medication Safety for Women: 2. Keep A Medicine List the FDA include a My Medicines record keeper in which you can:

“Write down the name and important facts about each medicine, vitamin, and herb you take. Note any side effects or problems you have taking your medicines. Keep the list with you all the time. Show it to your healthcare provider so that they know about all of the medicines you take”.10

In Medication Safety for Women: 2. Keep A Medicine List the FDA explain:

“My Medicines Record Keeper

Use the My Medicines brochure to help you keep track of the medicines you take. This brochure is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Polish, and 10 Asian/Pacific Islander languages.

Medicines

In Safe Use of Medicines for Older Adults: Keeping Track of Your Medicines the NIA also provide “…some tips to help you keep track of all your medicines”.

Common Medicine Mistakes

What are some common medicine mistakes?

In Use Medicines Wisely the FDA include a guide “to learn four (4) ways to avoid common medicine mistakes”.

Safety

What are some tips on how to take medicines safely?

In Safe Use of Medicines for Older Adults: Taking Medicines Safely the NIA provide “…some tips to help you take your medicines safely”.

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my medicines?

If you would like help with your medicines, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

The NIA explain:

“It can be dangerous to combine certain prescription drugs, OTC medicines, dietary supplements, or other remedies. For example, you should not take aspirin if you take warfarin for heart problems. To avoid potentially serious health issues, talk to your doctor about all medicines you take, including those prescribed by other doctors, and any OTC drugs, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies. Mention everything, even ones you use infrequently”.12 

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Medicines?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Medicines?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Medication Safety for Women: 2. Keep A Medicine List. Content Current As of: 18 September 2018. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/medication-safety-women Accessed: 26 January 2026
  2. Taking Medicines Safely As You Age: What Are Medicines? Content Reviewed: 22 September 2022. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-medicines-safely-you-age Accessed: 26 January 2026
  3. Understanding Over-the-Counter Medicines. Content Current As of: 16 May 2018. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/understanding-over-counter-medicines Accessed: 26 January 2026
  4. Taking Medicines Safely As You Age: What Are Medicines? Content Reviewed: 22 September 2022. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-medicines-safely-you-age Accessed: 26 January 2026
  5. Taking Medicines Safely As You Age: Side Effects. Content Reviewed: 22 September 2022. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-medicines-safely-you-age Accessed: 26 January 2026
  6. Taking Medicines Safely As You Age: Side Effects. Content Reviewed: 22 September 2022. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-medicines-safely-you-age Accessed: 26 January 2026
  7. Finding and Learning About Side Effects (Adverse Reactions): From Minor To Life Threatening – Reducing Your Risk. Content Current As of: 08 August 2022. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-information-consumers/finding-and-learning-about-side-effects-adverse-reactions Accessed: 26 January 2026
  8. Drug Interactions. Date Reviewed: 25 October 2022. NPS MedicineWise https://www.nps.org.au/consumers/understanding-drug-interactions Accessed: 26 January 2026
  9. Using Dietary Supplements Wisely: What the Science Says About the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements. Last Updated: January 2019. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/using-dietary-supplements-wisely Accessed: 26 January 2026
  10. Medication Safety for Women: 2. Keep A Medicine List. Content Current As of: 18 September 2018. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/medication-safety-women Accessed: 26 January 2026
  11. Medication Safety for Women: 2. Keep A Medicine List – My Medicines Record Keeper. Content Current As of: 18 September 2018. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/medication-safety-women Accessed: 26 January 2026
  12. Taking Medicines Safely As You Age: What Are Medicines? Content Reviewed: 22 September 2022. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-medicines-safely-you-age Accessed: 26 January 2026
Topic Last Updated: 26 January 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 26 January 2026

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