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Older adults are more likely than younger people to have long-term health problems such as arthritis and heart disease and to take medications on a regular basis. Because older adults often have more than one health problem, it isn't unusual for them to take several different prescription drugs, in addition to over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins and supplements.
As a result, older adults run a higher risk of overmedication and unwanted drug reactions. Older adults may end up taking too many drugs or drugs that interact in harmful ways. Compared to younger people, older adults tend to be more sensitive to the effects of many medications.
Every year, more than a third of older Americans have at least one unwanted drug reaction. Sometimes, these reactions are life-threatening.
To lower the odds of overmedication and drug reactions, the American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging recommends the following. (Note: If you care for an older person who needs help with medications, ensuring that these steps are taken can help prevent overmedication and related problems.)
Ask before taking an OTC Not all over-the-counter (OTC) medications are appropriate for older patients. Even though no prescription is needed for OTCs, some can cause side effects in seniors. In addition, some OTC medications -- like ibuprofen and naproxen -- may have different names but belong to the same drug class or category. Taking both of these is equivalent to taking a double dose. OTC drugs may also interact with your prescribed medications. For these reasons, you should always check with your health care provider before taking OTC drugs.
Make a list With your primary healthcare provider, make a list of all the medications you take, their doses, and how often you take them. Be sure to tell your provider if you take any OTC drugs, vitamins, supplements or herbal or other remedies and add these to the list. Your provider should keep this list in your records so others who care for you have access to this information. You should keep a copy too.
Share it Each time you see a healthcare provider, show him or your medication list so he or she knows exactly what you're taking.
Ask questions Whenever a healthcare provider prescribes a new drug or a change in the dose of a drug, ask why. (If, for example, your provider prescribes a new medication to ease the side effects of a drug you're already taking, ask if it makes sense to continue taking that drug.) Ask your provider to run any new medication through a drug interactions computer database, especially if you're already taking five or more drugs. Also ask:
- when and how you should take any new drug
- what you should do if you miss a dose
- whether the drug might interact with other drugs, vitamins or supplements you're taking.
- what warning signs of a drug interaction you should watch for
Update Remember to add any new drug or dose to your list and let your primary healthcare provider know whenever a specialist has prescribed a new drug for you.
Read labels Check the label to make sure the pharmacist has given you the right amount of the right drug at the right dose. Your pharmacist can put large-print labels on your medications if you have vision problems.
Follow directions Take your medications exactly as directed by your healthcare providers
Try to use one pharmacy for all prescriptions That way, your pharmacist will have a comprehensive list of the medications you're taking. Most pharmacies now have computer systems that will alert the pharmacist of possible drug interactions.
Review and revise Once or twice a year, ask your primary healthcare provider to review your list of medications, supplements, and vitamins with you, and check whether you still need each at its current dose.
Report problems If you begin to have new health problems after starting a new medication, you may be having a reaction to the drug. If so, tell your doctor right away. If you have a serious reaction -if you have difficulty breathing or your throat begins to swell -- call 911 and go to the emergency room immediately.
This tip sheet was created on October 10, 2007
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