List of medicines

List of medicines

A list of medicines is an up-to-date listing of all the medicines you currently use. This list is used for recording prescription medicines and vaccines as well as any OTC you may use. Add any nutritional supplements (natural remedies) on the list because they may interact with the medicines. This list can also be called a medication list, for example.

The list of medicines is important, because up-to-date information on the medicines you currently use cannot always be found in information systems. The list of medicines adds to your safety in case you are not able to tell what medicines you are taking. The list of medicines makes you more aware of your medication and indications and supports discussions with professionals. In addition to your own list, also remind your loved ones to keep an up-to-date medication list.

How do I prepare a list of medicines?

Write down all the prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs you are taking, as well as vaccinations you have received. Include any nutritional supplements (natural remedies) you are taking on the list.

For each product, write down the following information:

  • name and strength (e.g. milligrams)

  • your dose

  • indication

You can write the list by hand or use a computer. The list can be:

  • Written on paper by hand or a form prepared by a patient association, for example

  • A file created by a word processing or spreadsheet program and saved in a cloud service, for example

  • A summary of prescription drugs along with over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements – you can get a summary of prescription drugs from a doctor or pharmacy or print it from the My Kanta service. Make sure that the list only contains the medicines you are actually taking.

  • A card created in the www.laakekortti.fi online service

Whatever option you choose, it is important to keep only one up-to-date list and update it whenever changes to your medication are made. If you need help with the list, ask a health care professional or pharmacy.

Checklist for updating medication information – to support health care professionals

The checklist for updating medication information is intended as a tool for health care professionals. It can be used at any time when it is necessary to investigate medication information, but especially when a patient arrives at a health care unit and is discharged or transferred to further treatment.

The checklist is available for use in A4 size (text equivalent) and as a pocket card A6 in English, Finnish and Swedish. You can find them here.

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