BROWN BAG REVIEW or ASSESSMENT

Consumers should make sure all the prescriptions they are taking are necessary before beginning any process of comparing drug prices and looking for discounts. It is not unusual for patients to continue refilling prescriptions long after the need for the medication has passed. This is especially true of elderly patients.

The best way to reduce the amount spent on drugs is to put all your medications in a brown bag for the next time you visit your doctor or pharmacist, and ask them to look them over. They may be able to suggest generic alternatives, or perhaps eliminate a particular prescription altogether.

This brown bag review has become so common that some doctors, pharmacies, and hmo’s actually schedule occasional brown bag reviews. Check with your pharmacy, doctor, or hmo to find out if they will be holding a brown bag review.

Additional Resources:

Medication Mistakes: Drug Errors, Drug Interactions
http://www.healthscope.org/Interface/health_resources/choosing_drugs/medication_mistakes.asp

DO FAMILY DOCTORS KNOW WHAT THEIR ELDERLY PATIENTS ARE TAKING?
http://www.sergp.org/Educ2/CommunEduc/Do%20Family%20Drs%20Know%20What.htm

Iowa Priority's Brown Bag Assessment Program Helping Members
Identify Potential Medication Interactions, Duplications -- Members
Averting Harmful Reactions, Realizing Savings
http://www.iowapriority.org/newsrelease-brnbag.asp

HISTORY TAKING AND EXAMINING THE GERIATRIC PATIENT
http://www.med.uc.edu/pages/courses/icp2/01-023-margolin.doc

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