More drugs are prescribed to people over age 65 than to any other group in America. Older adults consume one quarter of all drugs prescribed in the United States. The average senior citizen receives 13 prescriptions per year, and nearly one half of all over-the-counter drugs. Because the elderly are the largest single group of people using prescription and non-prescription drugs, they also are the group most likely to have problems with them.
One in five seniors has experienced undesirable reactions to prescription medications. There are a variety of age-related reasons that explain why seniors have more than twice as many adverse reactions to medications as do younger individuals. As individuals age, changes in the digestive and circulatory systems, kidneys, and body composition affect how the body is able to absorb, use, and eliminate medications:
- Decreases in the motility and gastric acid secretion in the digestive tract can slow a drug’s passage through the stomach and intestines.
- The kidneys and liver become less efficient, meaning it takes longer for drugs to be flushed from the body.
- With age, the body has less protein stores and more fat. Because some drugs are fat-soluble, your body may absorb more of a medication.
- The amount of water in the body typically declines, as well. Drugs are not diluted as much and effects are stronger.
Information about the types, benefits, and side effects of prescription drugs is seemingly endless. There are thousands and thousands of prescription drugs available and the number increases each day. Remember that the best sources of information about your prescription medications are your doctor and your pharmacist. Take the time to understand what medication you will be taking, how much and when, as well as what adverse reactions you might expect. See the following ideas for more information on taking medications safely.
Ideas that Work:
Use the following list when a drug is prescribed. Ask your physician or pharmacist:
- Why has this drug been prescribed?
- What are its possible side effects?
- If side effects occur, what should I do?
- Will it react with other drugs that I am taking?
- How long will I need to take this drug?
- What time of the day should I schedule my dose?
- Will this drug increase my sensitivity to sunlight?
- What is the proper dosage?
- Should I take it on an empty stomach?
- Should I avoid alcohol or other foods or drinks?
- How will I know if the drug is working?
- Can this drug be substituted with a generic brand?
- How should this drug be stored?
- Are refills allowed?
- Beware of overmedication, or interaction with other drugs, including alcohol. Keep your doctor and pharmacist informed of all drugs you take. Here are some examples of combinations to avoid:
- Seldane (treats hay fever) and Erythromycin (treats a number of bacterial infections)
- Halcion (treats insomnia) and Erythromycin
- Mevacor (lowers blood cholesterol levels) and Lopid (treats patients with high serum triglyceride levels)
- Coumadin (prevents and/or treats blood clots) and Tagamet (treats stomach ulcers)
- Theo-Dur (prevents or relieves asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema symptoms) and Tagamet
- Tagamet and Dilantin (prevents and controls seizures)
- Prozac (treats major depression) and Dilantin
- Calan (treats angina, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, migraine headache, asthma, manic depression) and Duraquin (treats irregular heartbeat)
- Calan and Lanoxin (treats congestive heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and other heart problems)
- Eldepryl (treats Parkinson’s disease) and Norpramin (treats depression)
Medication by Mail
You could save as much as 50 percent on a drug(s) for a chronic condition. Contact your local pharmacy board or insurer to locate mail-order suppliers. The supplier should have a computerized medication file for each customer and a toll-free number for questions. Pointers for safe medication use:
- Know the names of the drugs you are taking.
- Know how to take a drug properly: e.g. with water, on an empty stomach, etc. Know how often you should take a medication and the proper dosage.
- Know what drugs you’re currently taking that should not be taken with a new medication.
- Understand the side effects of any drug you take.
- Don’t share you’re prescription drugs with another person or borrow someone else’s.
- Don’t change your dosage without first consulting your doctor.
- If possible, have all your prescribed medications come from one pharmacy or chain so that one source will have a record of all your medications. This will help minimize the potential for adverse drug reactions.