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People over the age of 65 consume more than a third of all prescription medications in the United States. And as they and their medicines grow in number, there’s growing concern about the elderly getting the wrong kind of drugs. In fact, almost a quarter of older Americans are sent to hospitals or nursing homes because of problems with medications.

Marylin Eigenfield of Los Angeles considers herself lucky to be alive. Seven years ago, she developed a sudden allergic reaction to ibuprofen, a common pain remedy.
       “I had very bad reactions. I went into shock and had to be treated at the hospital, a very frightening experience,” Eigenfeld said.
       According to the California Pharmacists Association, more than 100,000 Americans die each year of adverse drug reactions. The annual bill for treating medication misuse is a stunning $177 billion.

The group most prone to adverse drug reactions? Senior citizens. Because seniors are taking a growing variety of medicines, they run a higher risk of dangerous drug reactions.
       “Drug interactions with elderly people can be a problem. It’s not unusual for a patient getting six, seven, 10 medications at the same time and so these drug interactions can be significant,” said Dr. Steve Gray of Kaiser Permanente.
Some big HMOs like Kaiser Permanente now use computers to track patients with multiple prescriptions and flag any potentially harmful drug interactions. But health professionals say patients themselves need to be more alert to what they’re taking.
       “It would be very good if the patients would have a list of medications, who prescribed it, the dose, the directions,” said pharmacist Harold Washington, Jr.

A volunteer group called SMART (Senior Medication Awareness and Training) Coalition endorses that idea and hands out cards on which seniors can track all their prescriptions.
       “We’re training those seniors to ask more questions, to take charge, to be responsible for their medicines,” said John Gallapaga of SMART.
       “If I have to die, I don’t want to die from a reaction to medication; there are other ways to do it naturally,” Eigenfeld said. But she plans to do a whole lot more living by staying aware of the medicines she uses.

Avoiding Medication Mistakes :

1.Become an expert on what ails you. Ask your doctor all about it and do your own research.

2.Know all about your medications. Thousands die each year from medication errors. Know what you're taking, what the name is, what the strength is and what it's for.

3.After taking new medications, watch for new symptoms that could be side effects.

4.Bring all of your medicines to the doctor with you -- even over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies -- so your doctor can see everything you are taking.

5.Be on guard, even in the hospital. Every time a drug is about to be administered, even intravenously, ask what it is.

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