How to Prepare for a Medication Review Appointment: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why a medication review isn’t just another doctor’s visit

You’re taking pills for your blood pressure, your diabetes, your cholesterol, maybe a painkiller here and there, plus a few vitamins and herbal supplements you picked up at the store. It’s easy to forget which one does what, when you take it, or why you even started. That’s where a medication review comes in - it’s not a checkup, it’s a safety net.

Every year, thousands of people end up in emergency rooms because of bad drug interactions, wrong doses, or medicines that no longer help. A medication review stops that before it happens. It’s when your doctor or pharmacist sits down with you and goes through every single thing you’re taking - not just prescriptions, but everything. And if you don’t show up prepared, you’re wasting your time and putting your health at risk.

What exactly happens in a medication review?

A medication review isn’t a quick nod and a refill. It’s a full audit. Your healthcare provider will look at:

• Which medicines you’re taking, and why
• Whether any are no longer needed
• If doses are still right for your age, weight, or health changes
• How your medicines interact with each other
• Any side effects you’ve noticed - even if you think they’re normal
• Whether you’re actually taking them as prescribed

In New Zealand and the UK, these reviews are standard for people taking five or more medications. That’s called polypharmacy, and it’s not unusual for older adults or those with chronic conditions. But even if you’re on just three, it’s worth checking. Some medicines lose effectiveness over time. Others might be causing fatigue, dizziness, or confusion you’ve just learned to live with.

What you need to bring: The complete medicine list

This is non-negotiable. You must bring everything you take - not just what’s on your prescription list. That includes:

• All prescription pills and liquids
• Over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
• Vitamins, minerals, and supplements (even the ones you only take once a week)
• Herbal remedies - ginger pills, echinacea, St. John’s Wort
• Inhalers, creams, eye drops, patches
• Any medications you stopped taking recently

Don’t rely on memory. Bring the actual bottles. Even if they’re empty. A pharmacist can read the labels, check expiration dates, and spot if you’ve been taking the wrong dose. If you’re on a phone or video call, have everything laid out on the table in front of you. You can’t show your meds through the screen, so have them ready before the call starts.

Write down the details - don’t guess

Write a simple list with these details for each medicine:

1. Name of the medicine (use the label, not what you call it)
2. Dose (e.g., 10 mg, 2 sprays, 1 cream twice daily)
3. Why you take it (e.g., “for high blood pressure,” “for joint pain”)
4. When you take it (e.g., “with breakfast,” “at bedtime”)
5. Who prescribed it (doctor’s name or specialist clinic)
6. Any side effects you’ve noticed (e.g., “feels dizzy after lunch,” “constipated since starting this”)

Don’t leave anything out. One patient brought a list of 12 medicines - but forgot the magnesium supplement she took for muscle cramps. That one caused a dangerous interaction with her heart medication. It wasn’t on her prescription list, so no one knew about it.

Think about your goals - what do you want to change?

A good medication review is a conversation, not a lecture. Ask yourself:

• Is there a medicine you’d like to stop because it causes side effects?
• Are you taking too many pills and wish it was simpler?
• Do you forget doses because your schedule is too complicated?
• Have you noticed your symptoms getting worse - maybe your meds aren’t working anymore?

Write down one or two things you want to talk about. For example: “I feel tired all the time since I started the new cholesterol pill.” Or: “I’m scared of falling - could any of these make me dizzy?”

Don’t be shy. Your provider has heard it all. The more honest you are, the better they can help.

What if you can’t get to the clinic?

If mobility is an issue, or you live far away, you’re not out of luck. Many practices now offer telehealth medication reviews. But you need to prepare differently.

• Test your video or phone connection before the appointment
• Have all your medicines in one place, clearly labeled, on a table beside you
• Ask if you can send photos of your medicine bottles ahead of time
• Have a family member or caregiver sit with you during the call to help remember details

Some clinics even offer home visits for patients who can’t travel. You have to ask for this - they won’t offer it unless you say something. Call your practice and say: “I’m having trouble getting to appointments. Can I get a home-based medication review?”

What happens if you skip your review?

Some practices in New Zealand and the UK have strict rules. If you ignore three reminders for a medication review, they may stop giving you repeat prescriptions. That’s not punishment - it’s safety. Without knowing what you’re taking, doctors can’t safely refill your meds. They risk giving you something that interacts dangerously with something you’re already on.

It’s not about control. It’s about keeping you alive. One study found that patients who missed their medication reviews were 40% more likely to be hospitalized for drug-related problems.

Special cases: Parkinson’s, elderly patients, and cognitive changes

If you have Parkinson’s, timing matters more than ever. Some medications need to be taken within 30 minutes of each other, or they won’t work. Missing a dose by an hour can make you stiff and unable to move. Bring a written schedule showing exact times for each pill.

For older adults or those with memory issues, it’s smart to have a family member or caregiver join the appointment. They can help remember side effects or changes in behavior you might not notice yourself.

Also, don’t assume that if you’re on a lot of meds, you’re stuck with them. Many older patients can reduce their list - safely - by stopping things that no longer help or that overlap in effect.

After the review: What to expect

At the end, your provider should tell you:

• Which medicines to keep
• Which ones to stop or lower
• Which ones to change
• What new medicines, if any, you need
• When to come back

They should give you a written summary. Keep it. Show it to your pharmacist. Put it on your fridge. If anything changes - you start a new medicine, feel worse, or have a fall - call your clinic. Don’t wait for your next scheduled review.

Final tip: Make this a habit

Don’t wait until you’re in crisis to get a medication review. Set a reminder in your phone for once a year. Even if you feel fine. Even if you think you’re doing fine. Medications change how your body works over time. What helped last year might be hurting you now.

A medication review isn’t about being told what to do. It’s about taking control. It’s about making sure the pills you take are helping - not hiding in your cabinet, gathering dust, or making you sicker.