How Much Medication Are Seniors Taking?
Lots. Almost all seniors (defined in the study below as anyone over the age of 57) take some kind of medication. To be more precise, 91% of seniors take some kind of medication regularly (81% of seniors take a prescription medication regularly). But that is just the tip of the iceberg.Seniors Taking Multiple Medications
The same study showed that almost 30% of seniors are taking at least 5 medications, all prescribed by doctors, on a weekly or daily basis. Now, to all those medications, let’s add in over-the-counter medications and supplements. Over half of all the seniors in the study used at least 5 prescription medications, over-the-counter medications or supplements. That’s a whole lot of highly concentrated chemicals for one body to absorb.Drug Interactions
All this medication and supplement taking puts at least 4% of the people in the study in danger of a harmful drug interaction. These interactions weren’t just between prescription medications either: Almost half of the potentially dangerous drug interactions involved non-prescription medications or supplements. The authors mentioned, in a press release, that other studies show that seniors make around 175,000 trips to the emergency room each year because of drug interactions.The Study
The study surveyed over 3,000 seniors aged 57 to 85 who were representative of the United States (same average ethnicity, gender, income, education, etc.). In-home interviews were conducted and medication logs used to determine how much medication was being taken. When extrapolated to the whole population of the U.S., seniors on some form of medication represent 50.5 million people.Protect Yourself From Drug Interactions
The easiest and simplest way to protect yourself from harmful drug interactions is to make sure every one of your doctors knows everything you are taking. That list should include all over-the-counter medications (even seemingly harmless things like antacids, vitamins and aspirin). Make a list of absolutely everything you take, the dosage, how often you take it and the full name of the medication or supplement. Keep that list up-to-date. Show it to your doctor(s) each time a prescription changes.Another resource for you is your pharmacist. Bring a copy of the list to her (try to do this at a “slow” time of the day) and ask to have it looked over. They have a computer database where they can enter the medications and it will alter them of any known dangers.
Drug interactions are only the beginning. Some medications can delete certain nutrients from your body. Combinations of medications can cause side effects. Ask your doctor is there are any supplements you should or should not take with the medications she has prescribed.
Another resource that can help (suggested by a reader who is a pharmacist) is a website from the American Society of Consultant Pharmacist. On the site, you can find pharmacists with a sub-specialty in Geriatric Pharmacy (in other words, a certification in medications for seniors). These professionals are also called "Senior Care Pharmacists". If you have questions that no one seems to be able to answer about your or a loved one's medications, try contacting a senior care pharmacist (find one here).
Finally, you are going to have to do your own research. Go to Drugs A to Z and look up each of your medications and supplements. Learn as much as you can and take notes. Ask your doctor about the information you find there.
It’s a lot of work to keep your lists up to date and check out each of your medications and supplements. But if it can prevent a side effect or an ER trip, it’s well worth the effort.
Source(s): Dima M. Qato, PharmD, MPH; G. Caleb Alexander, MD, MS; Rena M. Conti, PhD; Michael Johnson, BA; Phil Schumm, MA; Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, MAPP. Use of Prescription and Over-the-counter Medications and Dietary Supplements Among Older Adults in the United States. JAMA. 2008;300(24):2867-2878.
