Drug Side Effects Medication Older Adults Should Use With Caution AARP Ev
Drug Side Effects - Medication Older Adults Should Use With Caution - AARP Ev...
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As a result, it's not uncommon for older adults to be overmedicated and to experience adverse reactions to the ever-lengthening list of medications they take.
To lower the chances of overmedication and dangerous drug reactions, the recommends that people age 65 and over be cautious about using the following types of drugs:
Important: If you are taking any of these medications, talk to your doctor or health care provider before stopping their use.
The concern: NSAIDs are used to reduce pain and inflammation, but in older adults these medications can increase the risk of , and bleeding in the stomach or colon; they can also increase , affect your kidneys and make worse. If NSAIDS are needed, better choices include the shorter-acting ibuprofen (Motrin) and (Disalcid).
Because of the increased risk of bleeding, don't use NSAIDs together with , (Plavix), dabigatran (Pradaxa), (Persantine), (Effient), (Ticlid) or (Coumadin).
If you take NSAIDs regularly and have a history of ulcers, or are 75 years of age or older, you may need to protect your stomach against bleeding with a prescription medication such as (Cytotec) or a such as (Prilosec).
1. When and how should I use this new drug? 2. What is the purpose of the medication? 3. What should I do if I miss a dose? 4. Will the drug interact with other medications, I'm taking? 5. Is a generic or lower-cost brand-name medication available? 6. What side effects, reactions or warning signs should I watch for?
The concern: These medications can leave you feeling groggy and confused, increase your risk of falls, and cause constipation, dry mouth and urination problems. Plus, there's little evidence that they work well.
The concern: In older adults especially, these medications can increase your risk of falls, as well as cause confusion. Because it takes your body a long time to get these drugs out of your system, you could feel groggy and sleepy for an extended period of time.
The concern: drugs can cause confusion, , urination problems, blurry vision and
The concern: Use of digoxin, which is prescribed as a treatment for and , can be toxic in older adults and people whose do not work well.
The concern: These types of medications, also known as narcotic analgesics, can cause confusion, falls, , confusion and even , especially in older adults.
Products that contain the chlorpheniramine (AllerChlor, Chlor-Trimeton) and (which is used in sleep aids including Tylenol PM as well as in cold and allergy brands such as Benadryl) can cause confusion, , , and in older people.
Another danger is accidental overdosing, which can occur when medicines that belong to the same drug class but have different names — such as ibuprofen and — are taken at the same time.
The concern: Anti-psychotic drugs can increase the risk of or even death; they can also cause and increase your risk of falls.
The concern: Estrogen can increase your risk of , and . Estrogens can also aggravate urinary incontinence in women. Whenever a doctor prescribes a new medication or makes a change in the dose, ask why. For instance, if a new medication is being prescribed to ease the side effects of a drug you're already taking, ask whether it makes sense to continue taking the drug that is causing the bad reaction.
Also, ask your health care provider or pharmacist to check any new medications in a , especially if you're already taking five or more drugs. Check Your Medication List Once or twice a year ask your doctor or health care provider to review the medications, you're taking. Ask whether you still need to take each one at its current dose. If possible, try to have all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. (Most pharmacies use computer systems that flag possible drug interactions.) Also, let your health care providers know about any past allergic reactions you have had to medications.
These organizations can help you find a doctor or pharmacist who specializes in caring for older adults:
American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging Physician Referral Service or 212-308-1414
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists or 703-739-1300
9 Types of Medication Older Adults Should Use With Caution
If you' re over 65 think twice before taking these drugs
As you grow older, you're more likely to develop long-term health conditions that require taking multiple medications. You're also more sensitive to many common medications, including .Colds and Antibiotics
Choosing your medical options wisely is important. So check out Choosing Wisely.org, a website set up by several highly respected medical organizations.()
As a result, it's not uncommon for older adults to be overmedicated and to experience adverse reactions to the ever-lengthening list of medications they take.
To lower the chances of overmedication and dangerous drug reactions, the recommends that people age 65 and over be cautious about using the following types of drugs:
Important: If you are taking any of these medications, talk to your doctor or health care provider before stopping their use.
Related
1 Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs NSAIDs br
Be cautious of: long-lasting such as piroxicam (sold under the brand-name Feldene) and (Indocin).The concern: NSAIDs are used to reduce pain and inflammation, but in older adults these medications can increase the risk of , and bleeding in the stomach or colon; they can also increase , affect your kidneys and make worse. If NSAIDS are needed, better choices include the shorter-acting ibuprofen (Motrin) and (Disalcid).
Because of the increased risk of bleeding, don't use NSAIDs together with , (Plavix), dabigatran (Pradaxa), (Persantine), (Effient), (Ticlid) or (Coumadin).
If you take NSAIDs regularly and have a history of ulcers, or are 75 years of age or older, you may need to protect your stomach against bleeding with a prescription medication such as (Cytotec) or a such as (Prilosec).
Ask Questions
A person's age can impact the effectiveness and side effects of the medications he or she takes. When taking a new medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist these important questions:1. When and how should I use this new drug? 2. What is the purpose of the medication? 3. What should I do if I miss a dose? 4. Will the drug interact with other medications, I'm taking? 5. Is a generic or lower-cost brand-name medication available? 6. What side effects, reactions or warning signs should I watch for?
2 Muscle relaxants br
Be cautious of: cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), l (Robaxin), (Soma) and similar medications.The concern: These medications can leave you feeling groggy and confused, increase your risk of falls, and cause constipation, dry mouth and urination problems. Plus, there's little evidence that they work well.
3 Anti-anxiety and anti-insomnia drugs
Be cautious of: benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), (Xanax) or (Librium, Limbitrol, Librax) as well as nonbenzodiazepine sleeping pills, such as (Sonata) and (Ambien).The concern: In older adults especially, these medications can increase your risk of falls, as well as cause confusion. Because it takes your body a long time to get these drugs out of your system, you could feel groggy and sleepy for an extended period of time.
4 Anticholinergic Drugs br
Be cautious of: medications including the antidepressants amitriptyline (Elavil) and (Tofranil), the anti- drug (Artane), the drug (Bentyl), the drug (Ditropan) and diphenhydramine, an antihistamine (Benadryl) often included in over-the-counter sleep medicines such as Tylenol PM.The concern: drugs can cause confusion, , urination problems, blurry vision and
New Medications & You
A person's age can impact the effectiveness and side effects of the medications he or she takes. If you experience new health problems after starting a new medication, you may be having a reaction to the drug. If so, tell your health care provider right away. If you have a serious reaction, such as difficulty breathing or swelling in your throat, call 911 and go to the emergency room immediately.5 Heart Medications br
Be cautious of: digoxin (Lanoxin) in doses greater than 0.125 mg.The concern: Use of digoxin, which is prescribed as a treatment for and , can be toxic in older adults and people whose do not work well.
6 Diabetes Drugs br
Be cautious of: (Diabeta, Micronase) and (Diabinese). The concern: They can cause severe in older adults.7 Opioid pain relievers br
Be cautious of: (Demerol) and (Talwin).The concern: These types of medications, also known as narcotic analgesics, can cause confusion, falls, , confusion and even , especially in older adults.
Be Cautious Over the Counter
Although over-the-counter medications are sold without a prescription, they aren't risk free.Products that contain the chlorpheniramine (AllerChlor, Chlor-Trimeton) and (which is used in sleep aids including Tylenol PM as well as in cold and allergy brands such as Benadryl) can cause confusion, , , and in older people.
Another danger is accidental overdosing, which can occur when medicines that belong to the same drug class but have different names — such as ibuprofen and — are taken at the same time.
8 Anti-psychotic drugs br
Be cautious of: Unless you are being treated for , or some forms of , stay away from anti-psychotics such as haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal) and quetiapine (Seroquel).The concern: Anti-psychotic drugs can increase the risk of or even death; they can also cause and increase your risk of falls.
9 Estrogen br
Be cautious of: pills and patches, which are typically prescribed for hot flashes and other -related symptoms.The concern: Estrogen can increase your risk of , and . Estrogens can also aggravate urinary incontinence in women. Whenever a doctor prescribes a new medication or makes a change in the dose, ask why. For instance, if a new medication is being prescribed to ease the side effects of a drug you're already taking, ask whether it makes sense to continue taking the drug that is causing the bad reaction.
Also, ask your health care provider or pharmacist to check any new medications in a , especially if you're already taking five or more drugs. Check Your Medication List Once or twice a year ask your doctor or health care provider to review the medications, you're taking. Ask whether you still need to take each one at its current dose. If possible, try to have all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. (Most pharmacies use computer systems that flag possible drug interactions.) Also, let your health care providers know about any past allergic reactions you have had to medications.
These organizations can help you find a doctor or pharmacist who specializes in caring for older adults:
American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging Physician Referral Service or 212-308-1414
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists or 703-739-1300