| Freelance Articles by Mary King |
| This article is protected by Copyright. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication. |
| There are numerous reasons as to why the risk of deadly drug combinations rises as we grow older. |
Each year thousands of people are sickened by dangerous drug interactions involving
prescription (Rx) medications and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. Aging seniors are the
most common victims of deadly drug interactions. Older people, spouses, family members
and caregivers can follow a few easy steps to reduce the risk of combining medications that
work against each other.
Common Ways to Acquire Incompatible Drugs
Older people typically have more than one physician. Chances are, they may also use more
than one pharmacy to have prescriptions filled. Using multiple doctors and two or more
pharmacies at a given time are two of the most common ways to accidentally acquire
incompatible drugs.
The solution? Using more than one doctor can't be avoided in most cases, but using one
pharmacy for all your prescription needs is one way to drastically reduce the chances of
acquiring incompatible drugs.
The sheer number of new drugs makes keeping up with deadly drug interactions next to
impossible. Today, even the smallest hometown pharmacies use the latest programs to keep
patient files updated (if they want to stay in business, that is). The same technology also
alerts pharmacists when a patient has been prescribed a drug that doesn't work well with
another medication the person might already be taking.
On the flip side, the Internet has made filling prescriptions easier than ever. The cyber
system isn't foolproof, however, and there is still a chance of getting incompatible
medications, especially if you order drugs from more than one provider.
prescription (Rx) medications and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. Aging seniors are the
most common victims of deadly drug interactions. Older people, spouses, family members
and caregivers can follow a few easy steps to reduce the risk of combining medications that
work against each other.
Common Ways to Acquire Incompatible Drugs
Older people typically have more than one physician. Chances are, they may also use more
than one pharmacy to have prescriptions filled. Using multiple doctors and two or more
pharmacies at a given time are two of the most common ways to accidentally acquire
incompatible drugs.
The solution? Using more than one doctor can't be avoided in most cases, but using one
pharmacy for all your prescription needs is one way to drastically reduce the chances of
acquiring incompatible drugs.
The sheer number of new drugs makes keeping up with deadly drug interactions next to
impossible. Today, even the smallest hometown pharmacies use the latest programs to keep
patient files updated (if they want to stay in business, that is). The same technology also
alerts pharmacists when a patient has been prescribed a drug that doesn't work well with
another medication the person might already be taking.
On the flip side, the Internet has made filling prescriptions easier than ever. The cyber
system isn't foolproof, however, and there is still a chance of getting incompatible
medications, especially if you order drugs from more than one provider.
| Why the Risk of Dangerous Drug Interactions Increases with Older People |
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Reasons Why Older Persons Are at High Risk for Dangerous Drug Interactions
Not sure about combining certain prescription drugs and OTC medicines? Call your doctor or
pharmacist to ask questions about combining medications. Most importantly, make sure he or
she knows ALL the drugs you are currently taking.
Other ways deadly drug interactions may occur:
Not sure about combining certain prescription drugs and OTC medicines? Call your doctor or
pharmacist to ask questions about combining medications. Most importantly, make sure he or
she knows ALL the drugs you are currently taking.
Other ways deadly drug interactions may occur:
- Poor communication. An older person may unintentionally fail to tell a new doctor or
pharmacist about all the medications he or she is taking, including vitamins, herbal
medicines, and home remedies. - Confusion due to old age. An elder may confuse the names of medicines or forget
dosages when filling out history forms at the doctor's office. - Neglecting to throw out old drugs. Seniors may hold on to old drugs that are no longer
needed. Taking both old and new medicines can lead to adverse reactions. - Not completely understanding how a drug is to be taken before leaving the doctor's
office. - Failure to heed drug warnings pasted on the container. An elder can easily forget (or
ignore) a doctor's instructions and/or fail to read the warnings on the drug package.
How to Reduce the Risk of Harmful Drug Interactions
Get actively involved in your medical care if you haven't already done
so. Caregivers, even If the senior lives independently, you or a family
member can still monitor medications. Be on alert for any unusual
patient behavior. Full-time caregivers usually become familiar with the
elderly person's doctor and pharmacist as part of their job or routine.
As an independent senior or a caregiver:
Side note: Using one pharmacy can also help guard against medical
identity theft. A pharmacist who knows the patient is likely to question
credit/debit card pr insurance purchases of anything out of the
ordinary. He can question an unlikely prescription or even OTC
purchases that are "odd" for the particular patient.
Remember to discard old medications properly: Don't flush pills or
liquid medicines down the toilet or wash them down the kitchen
drain. Evidence of the meds could end up in your community's water
system or recreation lake.
Get actively involved in your medical care if you haven't already done
so. Caregivers, even If the senior lives independently, you or a family
member can still monitor medications. Be on alert for any unusual
patient behavior. Full-time caregivers usually become familiar with the
elderly person's doctor and pharmacist as part of their job or routine.
As an independent senior or a caregiver:
- Take the time to discuss with the doctor and pharmacist all
medications being taken. - Bring to medical appointments a list of all the drugs being taken,
including OTC medicines, vitamins and herbal remedies, so that
nothing is overlooked. - Keep a list handy of all the doctors the senior sees.
Communication is vital between the medical professionals and
the patient, as well as with the patient's representative
(caregiver). - Use one pharmacy to prevent confusion. Get acquainted with the
pharmacist so that he or she becomes familiar with the patient's
condition.
Side note: Using one pharmacy can also help guard against medical
identity theft. A pharmacist who knows the patient is likely to question
credit/debit card pr insurance purchases of anything out of the
ordinary. He can question an unlikely prescription or even OTC
purchases that are "odd" for the particular patient.
- Keep a drug journal. Monitor dosages, side effects and reactions.
Keep all medicines in one location for easy access. Keep
refrigerated drugs in a designated place in the refrigerator. - Go through the medicine cabinet at least once a month and
discard anything that's expired or needs to be thrown out. - Check places where medications are commonly stored for old
items (Medicine cabinet, nightstand, purse, kitchen table, etc.).
Remember to discard old medications properly: Don't flush pills or
liquid medicines down the toilet or wash them down the kitchen
drain. Evidence of the meds could end up in your community's water
system or recreation lake.
Dangerous Drug Interactions Can Cause Illness or Death
It's always best to consult a physician or pharmacist about any drug combination. The trusted site AARP offers a quick
way to check how drugs react to each other with a "Drug Interaction Checker". Be sure to read the AARP disclaimer, as
well.
Dangerous drug interactions occur when one drug interacts adversely with another drug. The result can be unexpected
side effects, illness or even death. One drug may prevent another drug from working properly or may exacerbate a
drug's response.
Seniors and caregivers are reminded to take an active part in knowing key points about their medications. Lower the
risk of bad drug reactions by using one pharmacy and providing drug information to your entire team of health care
providers. The best defense against accidental adverse drug interactions is open communication. Speak up, voice any
concern and stay aware of what's going on with your health.
It's always best to consult a physician or pharmacist about any drug combination. The trusted site AARP offers a quick
way to check how drugs react to each other with a "Drug Interaction Checker". Be sure to read the AARP disclaimer, as
well.
Dangerous drug interactions occur when one drug interacts adversely with another drug. The result can be unexpected
side effects, illness or even death. One drug may prevent another drug from working properly or may exacerbate a
drug's response.
Seniors and caregivers are reminded to take an active part in knowing key points about their medications. Lower the
risk of bad drug reactions by using one pharmacy and providing drug information to your entire team of health care
providers. The best defense against accidental adverse drug interactions is open communication. Speak up, voice any
concern and stay aware of what's going on with your health.
January 2012