A list that could save your life

Are you a list person? Many of us are. The most popular one might be the to-do list, which comes in handy when you have a list of chores longer than your arm.

Then there’s the bucket list, the gratitude list, the achievement list (with enough cross-outs on the to-do list, you could wind up with an achievement list!), and countless others.

Maybe you don’t write lists, and are comfortable with many things in the back of your mind. But the one chunk of information you shouldn’t keep to yourself in your noggin is your medication list.

A list of all the medications you take will help you keep track of them, and will allow you to quickly share your current medicine regimen with a new doctor. It could also save your life, especially during an emergency — and especially if you’re not able to communicate.

If you take only a couple medications, jotting them down on a piece of paper will suffice.

If you’re on several meds, you may want to use a medicine list template. Ask your doctor if he or she has one.

Regardless of how you choose to make your list, it should include all prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins and supplements you take.

For each prescription medicine, OTC drug, vitamin and supplement, indicate the:

• drug name
• dosage (25 mg, for example)
• frequency
• reason you’re taking it

Be sure to include any allergies you have and your emergency contacts.

Keep a copy of your medication list with you, along with your health insurance card. That way, you’re always prepared to share it with a doctor, pharmacist, or in case of an emergency. It’s also a good idea to give a copy to a trusted relative, friend or caregiver.

Making your medicine list isn’t nearly as much fun as dreaming up your bucket list. But look at it this way: Once you get it done, you can check it off your to-do list!