Key takeaways:
It's important to keep track of the medications and supplements you take. Maintaining up-to-date records helps you communicate more effectively with your healthcare team. It also helps prevent medication errors and drug interactions.
There are many pieces of information that you can add to a written medication list. Examples include medication details, your healthcare professionals’ names, and any medication allergies you have.
A medication list can be easy to make on your own. It doesn’t need to be pretty or complex. But if you want some inspiration or guidance, know that there are many template example lists you can download online.
Odds are high that you or someone you care for takes medication on a daily basis. One survey found that nearly 70% of U.S. adults, ages 40 to 79, reported taking at least one prescription medication during the previous month. In that same survey, over 20% took five or more medications.
Remembering to take your medications can be difficult — and keeping a medication list organized and up-to-date can also be tedious. But having a current medication list is one way to help prevent medication errors and drug interactions. Because of this, many healthcare professionals recommend that you keep an updated medication list for yourself and people you care for.
Read on for tips on how to create and update a medication list.
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Why should you keep a medication list?
Keeping a medication list handy can help you in different health situations you may encounter.
A medication list provides a good way to communicate when and how you take your medications. It’s a quick and efficient way to share current medication information with members of your healthcare team, such as your primary care physician, specialist(s), and pharmacist.
Medication lists can also be useful if you’re hospitalized or visit a new healthcare professional. In these situations, you’ll likely be asked what medications you’re taking. In that moment, you may not be able to think of everything you take or their doses.
Forgetting what medications you take could lead to various problems if you’re prescribed something new. For instance, without knowing what medications you take, a prescriber could accidentally give you a medication that interacts with something you’re already taking. Or they could prescribe a medication that works similarly.
In some cases, these types of errors are harmless. But in other cases, they can be dangerous or even life-threatening. An updated and thorough medication list helps keep you safe from these types of medication errors.
How do you make a medication list?
You can make a medication list in a few different ways:
Handwriting a simple list on a piece of paper
Using a medication reminder app on a smartphone where you enter in the medications you take
Obtaining a medication list document from your prescriber’s office or pharmacy
Downloading a blank medication list form online and filling it out
Medication storage: After you organize your medication list, consider tackling your medicine cabinet next. Here are some pharmacist-backed tips for improving how you store your prescriptions.
Remembering your dose: From downloading a medication reminder app to identifying a medication buddy, there are several ways to jog your memory to take your dose.
Transferring your prescription: Does your current pharmacy not stock something on your medication list? Transferring your prescription is relatively simple — here’s how to do it.
How you make your list is up to you. The best medication list is the one you find the easiest to set up and maintain. The key thing is keeping it updated and remembering to share it with your healthcare team members who should see it.
If you’re not sure where to begin with making a medication list, various organizations have blank medication list examples to help you get started.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: They have blank versions of a full-page Pill Card and wallet-sized Pill Card.
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists: They have a personal medication list form available online that has separate areas for prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
AARP: They offer a personal medication record form in both English and Spanish. It also has areas for you to document the name of your prescriber and pharmacy. If you don’t have a printer, you can call 1-888-687-2277 to request a form be sent to you.
FDA: They offer their My Medicine Record form with very detailed instructions on what information should be included.
CDC: They have a personal medicines list. However, there’s less space for medications than some of the previous examples. It might be a better fit for someone who only takes a couple medications.
What information should you put on your medication list?
In general, there’s some information that you should always include on your medication list. Some of the forms provided above include these points. But you should add them if they’re missing.
Preferred items to add to a medication list include:
The name of the medication (either brand or generic name is fine)
The strength of the medication
How you take the medication (i.e., by mouth, injection)
How often you take the medication (i.e., twice a day, once daily in the morning)
Any special instructions on how you take the medication, such as taking with food or apart from other medications or supplements
How long you’ve been taking the medication (i.e., the date you started it)
Who prescribed the medication for you
What condition you take the medication for, like diabetes or high blood pressure
Any vitamins or OTC supplements you take (include the same details that you would for prescription medications)
Any medication allergies and what happens if you’re exposed to those medications (e.g., rash, trouble breathing)
What pharmacy you get your prescriptions filled at (if you use more than one pharmacy, include all pharmacies)
Last revision date
This isn’t everything that could be included. Some people will list other information, like their health conditions, past surgeries, and blood type. Pill colors are another common addition. If you feel something is important to your health or the healthcare you receive, include it on your medication list.
Medication list example
How to organize this information may be hard to visualize. Here's a hypothetical example of how a medication list might look for someone taking two medications and one supplement.
Purpose | High blood pressure | Hypothyroidism | General wellness |
Dose | 10 mg tablet | 50 mcg tablet | – |
How it’s taken | By mouth | By mouth | By mouth |
Frequency | Once every evening | Once every morning | Once every evening |
Special instructions | – | Take on an empty stomach first thing in the morning | – |
Prescriber’s name | Dr. Patel | Dr. Jackson | Purchase OTC; recommended by Dr. Patel |
Initial start date | March 2012 | December 2006 | July 2017 |
Pharmacy | CVS on 10th Street | CVS on 10th Street | Walmart |
Medication allergies: Sulfa drugs (hives, nausea)
Remember: Everybody’s medication routine is different. A list like this can be modified with additional details to meet your needs. You could also change the format to match your style.
When should you update your medication list?
You should update your medication list when something changes, such as a new prescription, a dose change, or if a medication is stopped. If you regularly share your list with someone else, make sure to inform them of this change as well.
If you have a handwritten list with lots of notes, it may be a good idea to clean it up or start fresh. Too many added notes to your medication list can make it jumbled or hard to read. This could cause a healthcare team member to misread your list.
If you can’t remember the last time you updated your medication list, then it’s probably also a good time to review it. Even if your medications haven’t changed, other health items may have.
Where should you keep your medication list?
You should keep a copy of your medication list with you at all times. That way, you have it with you in case of an emergency.
Some people prefer to make wallet-sized lists to more easily carry it on the go. You want to carry your medication list in an accessible spot, such as a purse. That way, if you’re unable to communicate, a healthcare professional could still find it if needed.
It may also be worth keeping a copy with a family member or in your house as well. This would be helpful in case your on-the-go list gets damaged or is lost.
What’s more, some health safety kits, such as the Vial of Life Project, provide a sticker you can attach to your front door. This sticker alerts emergency medical services that you have medical information somewhere in your house. It’s recommended to keep this information in an easily visible area, such as on your refrigerator door.
Who should you share your medication list with?
It’s a good practice to share your medication list with all the healthcare professionals you see — especially if changes have been made since the last time you saw them. Your healthcare team may not automatically share health records with each other and some may be unaware of these changes.
You should also share your medication list with your pharmacist. This is especially important if you use more than one pharmacy to fill prescriptions. Pharmacies don’t have a universal record of all medications you take. Community pharmacies only have access to prescription histories within their business.
It may also be helpful to give a copy to a caregiver or loved one. This would allow them to share it with healthcare professionals in a situation where you couldn’t provide one yourself.
The bottom line
Creating a medication list is a simple, yet important thing you can do to protect your health. By keeping an updated list with you at all times, you can easily provide important medication details to your healthcare team. It’s important to regularly review your medication list and make sure it’s current. There are several ways you can set up your medication list, and many organizations offer examples to help you get started.
Why trust our experts?
References
AARP. (n.d.). Do-it-yourself project: Take a loved one to the doctor.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2020). Your medicine: Be smart. Be safe.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2022). How to create a my medicines list.
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. (n.d.). Personal medication list.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Personal medicines list.
Hales, C. M., et al. (2019). Prescription drug use among adults aged 40–79 in the United States and Canada. National Center for Health Statistics.
Leonhardt, K. K., et al. (2008). Creating an accurate medication list in the outpatient setting through a patient-centered approach. Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches (Vol. 3: Performance and Tools). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Pfizer. (2013). Centrum silver adults 50+ [package insert]. Dietary Supplement Label Database.
Tariq, R. A., et al. (2024). Medication dispensing errors and prevention. StatPearls.
University of Michigan Health. (2024). Keep track of medicines.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). My medicine record.
Vial of Life. (n.d.). The Vial of Life lifesaving kit.
