It's called the brown-bag approach: All the medications, vitamins and supplements an older person takes go into a paper bag and are carted off to a pharmacist or doctor to figure out.

The goal is to have a professional find and eliminate potentially harmful combinations.

Everyone on prescription drugs should be careful about doses and interactions, but people older than 65 who are insured through the Medicare prescription drug plan can get a free, in-depth medications consultation -- with or without a brown bag -- through a state program called ChecKmeds NC.

"I've done well over 100 consultations," said Gretchen Jenkins, a pharmacist who is a clinical coordinator for Kerr Drugs. "They've all found out valuable information."

WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?

People older than 65 take about a third of all prescription drugs, often dealing with more than one disease. If different doctors are involved, seniors can unwittingly take dangerous combinations of drugs, said Vince Stevens, a pharmacist with the state Office of Rural Health & Community Care.

HOW DID CHECKMEDS NC START?

The program began six months ago with a $2 million grant from the state's tobacco settlement through the N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund. However, less than 2 percent of 500,000 eligible state residents have taken part.

HOW CAN I GET A CONSULTATION FOR MYSELF OR A LOVED ONE?

Information on eligible pharmacists, who get special training from the state, is available by calling (866) 922-6247, or going online to www.getoutcomes.com. More than 30 participating pharmacies are listed within 10 miles of downtown Raleigh.

WHAT'S AHEAD?

AARP and other advocates for older state residents are prepared to fight for continued grant funding for ChecKmeds NC in the legislative session that starts next week. Vandana Shah, executive director of the Health and Wellness Trust Fund, says she hopes that good results from the program will persuade Medicare to fund in-depth, face-to-face medications checks.