How to Keep an Up-to-Date Medication List for an Older Parent
What to record on a medication list, how to keep it current, and who to share it with, plus a printable template. For record-keeping only, never for changing doses.
By Pascaline Editorial · Published · 3 min read
Key points
- A medication list records everything your parent takes, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements, so every doctor and pharmacist works from the same information.
- Record the name, strength, the prescribed instructions copied exactly, what it's for, who prescribed it, and notes. List allergies separately.
- Update it the same day anything changes, bring it to every appointment, and keep copies at home and with your parent.
- It's a record, not instructions. Never start, stop or change a medicine based on the list. Check it with a doctor or pharmacist.
A medication list is one up-to-date record of everything a person takes: prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements and other remedies. It helps every doctor, pharmacist and family member work from the same information, and it's especially useful when someone sees more than one doctor.
What to include
NIA recommends listing every medicine (opens in a new tab) and supplement with its name, the amount, and the time(s) it's taken. For prescriptions, it suggests also noting the prescribing doctor and the reason it was prescribed. NIA and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (opens in a new tab) both recommend including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and dietary supplements. We'd also suggest including things people don't always think of as medicines, such as eye drops, creams, inhalers, and herbal or Ayurvedic preparations. The FDA notes that a herbal preparation or supplement can change how another medicine works.
In practice, a useful list has these columns:
| Field | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine name | Exactly as on the strip, bottle or prescription. Include the brand and generic name if both are shown | Write it as printed |
| Strength | As printed on the pack | e.g. "500 mg" |
| Prescribed instructions | Copied exactly from the prescription or label | e.g. "1 tablet after breakfast" |
| What it's for | As explained by the prescriber | e.g. "blood pressure" |
| Prescribed by | Doctor's name and clinic | |
| Started on | Date, if known | |
| Notes | Anything the doctor or pharmacist told you, such as "take with food" |
Separately, list any allergies or past reactions to medicines. NIA suggests making sure both the doctor and the pharmacist have an up-to-date list of allergies.
Keeping it current
A list is only useful if it's right. A few habits help:
- Update it the same day a medicine is added, stopped or changed by a clinician, and write the date at the top.
- Cross out stopped medicines rather than leaving them on the list.
- Bring it to every appointment, including dentists and therapists. NIA recommends showing the list to all health care providers. Ask at each visit whether everything on it is still needed.
- Keep one copy at home and one with the person. The FDA suggests one copy at home and another in a wallet, purse or phone.
- Use one pharmacy if you can. NIA notes this keeps records in one place. If you use several, share the list with each.
- Decide who owns it. If several family members help, agree who updates the list. See how siblings can coordinate care.
Understanding prescriptions
Prescriptions often use abbreviations. NIA gives some common ones: bid (twice a day), tid (three times a day), qid (four times a day), ac (before meals), pc (after meals), hs (at bedtime), prn (as needed) and po (by mouth). If anything on a prescription is unclear, ask the pharmacist or doctor to explain it rather than guessing.
Checking the list with a professional
Take the list to the doctor or pharmacist and ask them to check it against their records. NIA suggests asking at each visit whether all the medicines are still needed. Good questions to ask:
- Is everything on this list correct and still needed?
- Are there any combinations here I should ask about?
- Are there instructions I should write differently so they're clearer?
Printable medication list
Print this page and fill it in by hand. Use pencil for anything likely to change.
Medication list for: ____________________ Last updated: ____________
Allergies and past reactions: ____________________________________________
| Medicine and strength | Prescribed instructions | What it's for | Prescribed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Checked with doctor or pharmacist on: ____________ by: ____________________
For record-keeping only. Do not change any medicine without advice from the prescriber or a pharmacist.
Common questions
What should be on a medication list for an elderly parent?
For each medicine or supplement: the name as printed, strength, the prescribed instructions copied exactly, what it's for, who prescribed it, when it was started, and any notes from the doctor or pharmacist. Also list allergies and past reactions.
How often should a medication list be updated?
Update it on the same day a clinician adds, stops or changes a medicine, cross out stopped medicines, and write the date at the top. Take it to every appointment and ask whether everything on it is still needed.
Can I use the medication list to change my parent's doses?
No. The list is for record-keeping only. Copy instructions exactly as the prescriber or pharmacist gave them, and talk to them before any change. The US National Institute on Aging advises not stopping a medicine because of side effects without talking to a health care provider first.
Sources
The pages we used for this guide. Links open the original source in a new tab.
- Taking Medicines Safely as You Age (opens in a new tab) (National Institute on Aging (US), 22 September 2022). Accessed 21 October 2026.
- 5 Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults (opens in a new tab) (US Food and Drug Administration, 15 February 2024). Accessed 21 October 2026.
- Taking Someone to a Doctor's Appointment: Tips for Caregivers (opens in a new tab) (National Institute on Aging (US), 12 October 2023). Accessed 21 October 2026.
Something here out of date or wrong? Tell us and we’ll check it. This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Use your own judgement, and check with a qualified professional before acting on it. Pascaline accepts no liability for actions taken based on this guide. See the disclaimer.