Annual Medication Review with a Pharmacist: How It Reduces Side Effects

Every year, millions of Americans take medications that don’t belong to them-or take too many, too often, or at the wrong time. Many of these mistakes lead to side effects that feel like aging, fatigue, or confusion, but are actually caused by drug interactions or unnecessary pills. An annual medication review with a pharmacist can change that. It’s not a check-up with your doctor. It’s a deep, one-on-one conversation focused entirely on what’s in your medicine cabinet-and why.

What Happens During an Annual Medication Review?

An annual medication review isn’t just a list check. It’s a full clinical evaluation done by a pharmacist trained in medication therapy management (MTM). They look at every pill, patch, vitamin, herb, and over-the-counter drug you take-even the ones you forget to mention. The goal? To cut out the noise, fix the risks, and make sure every medication still serves a real purpose.

The process is simple but thorough. First, you bring everything: prescription bottles, supplement jars, even that bottle of melatonin you take “just in case.” The pharmacist then asks: Why are you taking this? Is it still helping? Is it causing more harm than good? They check for duplicates-like taking two different drugs for high blood pressure-or interactions that could make you dizzy, confused, or sick.

For someone on five or more medications, this review isn’t optional. It’s essential. About 40% of adults over 65 take four or more long-term drugs. That’s polypharmacy-and it’s one of the top reasons seniors end up in the hospital. A 2012 NIH study found that medication-related problems cause nearly 20% of all adverse drug events. Most of these are preventable.

Why Pharmacists, Not Just Doctors?

Your doctor has 15 minutes. Your pharmacist has 30 to 60. That difference matters.

Doctors focus on diagnosis and treatment plans. Pharmacists focus on how the drugs work together. They know that taking ibuprofen with blood thinners can cause stomach bleeding. They know that statins and grapefruit juice can spike muscle damage. They know that antihistamines can make older adults fall.

Pharmacists also track what you’re not saying. Studies show 40-50% of patients forget to mention supplements or OTC drugs during doctor visits. But in a medication review, the pharmacist asks directly: “Do you take anything for sleep? For memory? For heartburn?” That’s how they catch hidden risks.

Plus, pharmacists are everywhere. Nine out of ten Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. You don’t need a referral. You don’t need to wait weeks. Walk in with your meds, and you’re seen.

Real Problems They Fix

Here’s what actually gets fixed during these reviews:

• Duplicate medications: One patient was taking two different drugs for the same condition-both prescribed by different doctors. The pharmacist caught it and helped cancel one, cutting side effects in half.
• Unnecessary drugs: An 82-year-old woman was still taking a muscle relaxant prescribed after a fall five years ago. She didn’t fall anymore, but the drug made her foggy and unsteady. Stopping it improved her balance and energy.
• Wrong timing: Someone was taking their blood pressure pill at night, which made them dizzy in the morning. Switching it to morning fixed the problem.
• Hidden interactions: A man on warfarin was taking a new herbal supplement for joint pain. The pharmacist flagged it-this combo increased his bleeding risk. He switched to a safer option.

These aren’t rare cases. They happen every day. In fact, the American Pharmacists Association says 1.5 million adverse drug events occur each year in the U.S.-and most are preventable. An annual review cuts that risk significantly.

Who Benefits Most?

This review isn’t for everyone-but it’s critical for some.

• Seniors on five or more medications: The risk of side effects jumps sharply after four drugs. If you’re over 65 and take multiple prescriptions, this is your safety net.
• People with chronic conditions: Diabetes, heart disease, COPD, arthritis-each adds more meds. The more conditions you have, the higher the chance of conflicts.
• Those experiencing unexplained symptoms: Fatigue, memory lapses, dizziness, nausea-these are often blamed on aging. But they could be side effects. A review can pinpoint the culprit.
• Patients who’ve recently changed meds: New prescriptions, hospital discharges, or specialist referrals mean your regimen just got more complex. A review helps untangle it.

If you’re on just one or two meds for a simple condition-like a single antibiotic or thyroid pill-you might not need this. But if your medicine cabinet looks like a pharmacy shelf, you’re a candidate.

How to Prepare for Your Review

Don’t walk in empty-handed. The better your list, the better the review.

• Bring every medication: prescriptions, OTC pain relievers, sleep aids, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. Even the ones you only take “sometimes.”
• Write down what each one is for. If you don’t know, write “I’m not sure.” That’s fine-the pharmacist will find out.
• Note any side effects you’ve noticed: “I feel tired after lunch,” or “My legs shake after taking my pill.”
• Bring your insurance card. Many Medicare Part D plans cover this review at no cost.

Most pharmacies offer this service for free if you’re on Medicare Part D. Commercial insurers are starting to cover it too. Ask your pharmacist. If they say no, ask for a referral to a MTM-certified pharmacist.

What Happens After the Review?

You don’t just walk out with advice. You walk out with a plan.

The pharmacist will give you a written summary: what to keep, what to stop, what to change. They’ll send a copy to your doctor-so your care stays coordinated. And they’ll follow up. Some pharmacies call you in a week to see how you’re doing with the changes.

Many patients report feeling more in control. One woman said, “I thought my memory loss was just getting old. Turns out it was the antihistamine I took for allergies. Stopping it brought my focus back.”

The results are measurable. Studies show patients who get annual reviews have fewer hospital visits, lower drug costs, and better adherence. One study found that 30% of patients had at least one medication discontinued after a review-and their side effects dropped by 40%.

Why This Isn’t Just a “Good Idea”-It’s a Safety Habit

Think of it like changing your smoke detector batteries. You don’t wait for the alarm to go off. You do it once a year, because it saves lives.

Medications are powerful. They save lives-but they can also hurt you if they’re not managed right. The average person takes more meds now than ever before. And the older we get, the more complex it gets.

An annual medication review isn’t about fixing a problem. It’s about preventing one. It’s about making sure your pills are helping-not hurting.

You wouldn’t drive a car with worn brakes and no oil check. Why take meds without checking if they’re still safe?

Next Steps: When and Where to Go

You don’t need to wait for your doctor to suggest it. Take charge.

• Call your local pharmacy and ask: “Do you offer annual medication reviews?”
• If you’re on Medicare Part D, you’re eligible for a free review. Ask if you qualify.
• Look for pharmacies with MTM-certified pharmacists-these are trained specifically for this service.
• Mark it on your calendar: same time every year. Make it as routine as your flu shot.

If you’ve had a hospital stay, changed doctors, or started a new medication in the last six months, don’t wait. Schedule it now.

This isn’t a luxury. It’s basic safety. And it’s easier than you think.