If you are an older adult or know someone who is, then you know that there are some special precautions to take when taking medications. A new study found that one in five older adults who take at least two prescription medications are potentially putting themselves at risk for an adverse drug reaction, according to the National Institutes of Health. The study’s authors recommend that patients discuss all their medications with a doctor or pharmacist before stopping or starting any drugs.
Why The Special Concern?
The older you get, the more likely it is that you will be taking prescription drugs, which can raise your risk of negative drug effects. Older adults take an average of nine different medications each day, which makes the risk even higher. In addition, certain diseases also cause changes that can increase a person’s drug toxicity. Older adults tend to have more sensitive reactions to drugs and their bodies may take longer than younger people to process them. Changes in one’s physical appearance may also impact the way medications are handled by the body, resulting in adverse effects. For example, research shows 60 percent of older patients with chronic heart failure never talked with their doctors about the use of potentially dangerous diuretics (water pills) which can cause excessive loss of potassium.
Take Medicine as Prescribed
Always follow the directions on your prescription label. Prescription medications should not be taken unless specifically authorized by your personal health care provider. Also, make sure not to take more than the prescribed amount, as this can also lead to adverse drug reactions, and don’t miss any doses. You may need to take your medication at different times throughout the day in order for it to be effective, which can add another level of complexity when taking medications regularly. If you don’t take your medications as prescribed, it can lead to drug interactions. Drug interactions can occur when two or more drugs are taken together and one drug affects the way the other is metabolized in the body. This can cause negative health effects, such as toxicity or an overdose.