Medication management is the monitoring of medications that a patient takes to confirm that he or she is complying with a medication regimen, while also ensuring the patient is avoiding potentially dangerous drug interactions and other complications. This is especially important for those taking large numbers of medications to address chronic illnesses and multiple diseases. Taking multiple medications is known as polypharmacy, and it is particularly common among older adults, as they are more likely to need medications to manage an array of chronic conditions.
At Gilead, our goal is to ensure that medications are used appropriately. Another part of medication management involves checking for harmful drug interactions and confirming that patients follow directions for taking drugs. This includes ensuring that patients on medications with known harmful interactions are not provided with conflicting prescriptions. It also includes reminding patients about whether or not drugs need to be taken with food, and warning them about potential side effects such as fatigue, hunger, or altered level of consciousness that might disrupt their activities.