Brown Bag Medication Review Events: Preparing for a Safe Checkup

Why Your Medicine Cabinet Might Be More Dangerous Than You Think

Imagine this: you’re taking eight different pills every day. Some are prescriptions. Some are over-the-counter painkillers. You’ve got a bottle of fish oil, a multivitamin, and that herbal tea your sister swore helped her sleep. You don’t know why you’re taking half of them anymore - you just do. Then one day, you feel dizzy, nauseous, or confused. You blame it on aging. But what if it’s not aging? What if it’s the pills themselves?

This isn’t rare. In Australia, nearly half of adults over 65 are taking five or more medications. That’s called polypharmacy. And it’s not just about quantity - it’s about what happens when those drugs interact, overlap, or lose their purpose. That’s where the Brown Bag Medication Review comes in. It’s not fancy. It doesn’t need tech. All you need is a brown paper bag and the courage to open it.

What Exactly Is a Brown Bag Medication Review?

A Brown Bag Medication Review is simple: you gather every single thing you take - prescriptions, supplements, OTC drugs, creams, inhalers, even that gummy vitamin you sneak in the morning - and put them all in a brown paper bag. Then you take it to your doctor or pharmacist. They lay it out, check each bottle, compare it to your medical records, and ask: Why are you taking this?

The name comes from the 1980s, when pharmacists in the U.S. started handing out brown grocery bags to patients so they could bring their meds to appointments. No fancy app. No digital list. Just the real thing. And it works. Studies show that when patients try to list their meds from memory, up to 87% get it wrong. But when they bring the actual bottles? Accuracy jumps to 95%.

This isn’t just a check-up. It’s a safety net. Medication errors cause one in five hospital admissions for seniors. Many of those are preventable. The Brown Bag Review catches things like double-dosing on blood pressure meds, mixing sleep aids that shouldn’t be combined, or taking a supplement that cancels out your heart medication.

What Should You Put in the Bag?

Don’t just grab your prescription bottles. Think wider. Here’s the full list:

• All prescription medicines - even if you haven’t taken them in months
• Over-the-counter drugs: ibuprofen, antacids, cold pills, sleep aids
• Vitamins and minerals: multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D, iron
• Herbal remedies: echinacea, ginkgo, turmeric, St. John’s wort
• Supplements: protein powders, fish oil, probiotics, collagen
• Topical treatments: creams, patches, eye drops, inhalers
• Any medication someone else gave you - even if you’re not sure what it’s for

Don’t leave anything out because you think it’s "not important." That’s how mistakes happen. One woman in Sydney brought in her "daily tea" - it turned out to be a potent herbal blend that was dangerously lowering her blood pressure. Her doctor had no idea because it wasn’t in her records. The tea? Gone. Her dizziness? Gone too.

Also, bring the actual bottles. Not the pill organizer. Not the list on your phone. The original packaging. That’s where the expiration dates, dosages, and pharmacy labels are. Those details matter.

Why This Beats a Written List or App

You might think: "I have a list on my phone. I update it every week." But here’s the truth: people forget. They misremember. They think "I only take one aspirin a day," when they’re actually taking two. Or they stop taking a drug but never told their doctor.

One 2023 study found that when seniors tried to list their meds verbally, only 13% got it right. That means 87% of the time, the doctor is working with false information. Even electronic health records miss up to 40% of medications - especially supplements and herbs. Why? Because patients don’t report them. Doctors don’t ask. And pharmacies don’t always link them to prescriptions.

The Brown Bag method cuts through all that. You show the bottles. They see the real thing. They can read the label. They can spot if the dosage changed. They can see if you’ve been taking the same pill for five years with no review. That’s the power of physical proof.

What Happens During the Review?

The review takes 30 to 45 minutes. It’s not rushed. It’s not a quick nod from your GP. You’ll sit with a pharmacist or doctor who will:

1. Check each bottle for name, dosage, frequency, and expiration date
2. Compare your bag to your medical records and prescription history
3. Look for duplicates - like two different prescriptions for the same drug
4. Spot dangerous interactions - for example, mixing blood thinners with certain herbs
5. Ask: "Is this still helping you?" Many meds lose their purpose over time
6. Identify pills you’re not even supposed to be taking
7. Explain why each medication matters - in plain language

One man in Melbourne was taking three different sleep aids - one prescription, one OTC, and one herbal. He thought they were all safe together. They weren’t. The review caught it. He stopped two of them. His energy improved. His memory got sharper. He didn’t even realize how foggy he’d been.

After the review, you’ll get a clean, updated list. No more guesswork. No more confusion. Just what you need, what you’re taking, and why.

Who Needs This the Most?

This isn’t just for seniors. But it’s most critical for people over 65. Why? Because your body changes. Your liver and kidneys don’t process drugs the same way. You’re more likely to feel side effects. And you’re more likely to be on multiple medications.

Here’s the data:

• 89% of Australians over 65 take at least one prescription
• 55% take five or more
• 44% take at least one OTC drug daily
• 28% take supplements regularly

That’s a lot of pills. And a lot of risk. But even younger people with chronic conditions - diabetes, heart disease, depression - benefit. If you’re on three or more meds, you’re at risk. If you’ve been hospitalized in the past year, you’re at higher risk. If you’ve had a fall, or feel confused, or have unexplained fatigue - you need this review.

It’s not about age. It’s about complexity. And most people don’t realize how complex their regimen has become.

How to Prepare - And What to Say

Preparing isn’t hard. But it takes a little planning.

• Set aside a day to collect everything. Don’t wait until the day before.
• Use a real brown paper bag. No plastic. No backpack. Just the bag.
• Don’t sort or throw anything out. Bring it all.
• Write down one or two concerns: "I feel dizzy after lunch," or "I don’t know why I take this blue pill."

When you get there, say this: "I want to make sure I’m not taking anything I don’t need, or that could hurt me." That’s enough. You don’t need to sound like an expert. You just need to show up.

Don’t feel embarrassed if you’ve been hoarding old meds. One in three seniors admit they keep unused pills "just in case." That’s normal. The provider won’t judge. They’ve seen it all. Their job is to help you stay safe - not to scold you.

What Comes After the Review?

After the review, you’ll walk out with a clear plan. That might mean:

• Stopping a medication that’s no longer needed
• Changing a dose because it’s too high
• Switching to a cheaper or safer alternative
• Adding a new drug to replace something that’s causing side effects
• Getting a pill organizer or reminder system

One study found that 64% of people who had a Brown Bag Review had at least one unnecessary medication discontinued. That’s not just saving money - it’s saving your body from extra stress.

And here’s the best part: many Medicare Advantage plans and private insurers now cover this review. In Australia, some community pharmacies offer it for free as part of their chronic disease management programs. Ask your pharmacist. Ask your GP. It’s not a luxury - it’s part of good care now.

What If You Can’t Bring the Bag?

Some people can’t gather all their meds. Maybe they’re housebound. Maybe they’re confused. Maybe they forgot.

That’s okay. But don’t skip the review. Call ahead. Ask if they can send someone to your home. Many community health services now offer in-home reviews. Or ask if you can bring photos of your pill bottles. It’s not ideal - but it’s better than nothing.

Some pharmacies now offer apps that let you scan pill labels. But don’t rely on them alone. Technology can miss things. A pill you got from a friend? A supplement you bought online? An old prescription you never finished? Those won’t show up in an app. Only the bag will.

Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

In 2026, Australia’s health system is pushing harder than ever for medication safety. The government is requiring annual medication reviews for all seniors on Medicare. Hospitals are being penalized for readmissions caused by drug errors. Pharmacies are being paid to run these reviews.

This isn’t bureaucracy. It’s survival. Every year, Australians spend over $500 million treating problems caused by bad medication use. Most of it is preventable. The Brown Bag Review is the simplest, most effective tool we have.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being safe. It’s about knowing what’s in your body - and why.

Final Thought: Your Meds Are Not Just Pills

They’re your history. Your fears. Your hopes. The time you took something because you were scared. The pill you kept because you didn’t want to bother the doctor. The supplement you bought because it "helped someone else." The Brown Bag Review doesn’t ask you to change your habits. It asks you to understand them. And then, with help, to make them safer.