What Older Adults Can Do to Manage Medications

1. Make a list.
2. Review your medications regularly.
3. Look out for Side Effects.
4. Ask about Over-the-Counter Medications.
5. Review Medications If You’re in the Hospital.
6. Look Out For Inappropriate Medications.
7. Take Your Medication Properly.

Why is taking multiple medications a problem for the elderly?

Elderly people are at a greater risk for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) because of the metabolic changes and reduced drug clearance associated with ageing; this risk is furthermore exacerbated by increasing the number of drugs used. Potential of drug-drug interactions is further increased by use of multiple drugs.

How many medications does the average elderly person take?

The statistics on medication usage among elderly patients in the US are eye-opening: more than one-third of prescriptions drugs used in the US are taken by elderly patients; the ambulatory elderly fill between 9-13 prescriptions a year (including new prescriptions and refills); the average elderly patient is taking

What happens when you take too many medications?

Taking multiple medications can also impact your quality of life. It isn’t easy to keep track of different medications that you take on different dosing schedules. And multiple medications could make it more likely for you to fall, which can increase your risk of other health problems or even of dying prematurely.

How do you take multiple medications?

What you can do

1. Keep a list of all medicines you take.
2. Review your medicine list with your providers and pharmacists.
3. Ask questions about any new drugs you are prescribed.
4. Take your medicines exactly as your provider tells you.
5. If you notice side effects, tell your provider.
6. Keep your medicines organized.

How can you prevent problems caused by multiple drug interactions in older patients?

Conducting medication reconciliations at care transition, eliminating duplicate medications, assessing for drug-drug interactions, and reviewing dosages can reduce the incidence of polypharmacy, ensure patient safety, reduce hospitalizations, and decrease associated costs.

What is the most common medication problem in the elderly?

Warfarin is one of the most common causes of medication-related hospitalizations in older adults. To reduce the risk of serious problems, one may need to apply extra care in monitoring warfarin effect (via the prothrombin blood test) and extra care in checking for interactions when a new drug is prescribed.

Is it okay to take a lot of medicine?

However, taking too many prescription medications can be risky. Taking more than five medications is called polypharmacy. The risk of harmful effects, drug interactions and hospitalizations increase when you take more medications.

What is the correct term for taking multiple medicines?

The use of multiple medicines, commonly referred to as polypharmacy is common in the older population with multimorbidity, as one or more medicines may be used to treat each condition.

What are the signs of over medication?

The Signs and Symptoms of Overmedication

• Fatigue and energy depletion.
• Pressure in the abdomen.
• Aches and pains in the body.
• Problems with balance and motor skills.
• Fatalities and falls.
• Rashes and flushing of the skin on a regular basis.
• Weight gain or loss that is not clarified.

Why are the elderly overmedicated?

An increasing number of elderly patients nationwide are on multiple medications to treat chronic diseases, raising their chances of dangerous drug interactions and serious side effects. Often the drugs are prescribed by different specialists who don’t communicate with each other.

How do you know if someone is overdosing?

Some general symptoms associated with various overdose states include severe chest pain, seizures, severe headaches, difficulty breathing, delirium, extreme agitation, or anxiety. In addition to these symptoms, other signs may include: Deviations from normal body temperature (e.g., hyperthermia/hypothermia).

What medicines Cannot be taken together?

5 Over-the-Counter Medicines You Should Never Take Together

• Dangerous duo: Tylenol and multi-symptom cold medicines.
• Dangerous duo: Any combo of ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.
• Dangerous duo: Antihistamines and motion-sickness medications.
• Dangerous duo: Anti-diarrheal medicine and calcium supplements.
• Dangerous duo: St.

Why do I keep forgetting to take my medication?

Forgetting to take medication can be related to how many times a day a medication is prescribed. The more often a medication is prescribed, the more likely it is that the medication will be forgotten. Some medications are available as an extended-release form, which allows the medication to be taken less frequently.

How many hours should be between medicines?

Taking your medications at the proper intervals during the day. Try to divide up your dosing times as evenly as possible throughout the day: for example, every 12 hours for a drug that needs to be taken twice a day, or every 8 hours for a drug that needs to be taken three times a day.