Medicines:
Use Them Safely
By: National
Institute on Aging
People age 65 and older consume more
prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines than any other age
group. Older people tend to have more long-term, chronic illnesses —
such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease —
than do younger people. Because they may have a number of diseases or
disabilities at the same time, it is common for older people to take many
different drugs.
Taking different medicines is not
always easy to do right. It may be hard to remember what each medicine is
for, how you should take it and when you should take it. This is
especially true of people with memory problems or dementia.
Medicines may act differently in
older people than in younger people. This may be because of normal changes
in the body that happen with age. For instance, as we get older, we lose
water and lean tissue (mainly muscle) and we gain more fat tissue. This
can make a difference in how long a drug stays in the body.
Keep in mind that “drugs” can
mean both medicines prescribed by your doctor and over-the-counter (OTC)
medicines, which you buy without a doctor’s prescription. OTC’s can
include vitamins and minerals, herbal and dietary supplements, laxatives,
cold medicines, and antacids. Taking some OTC’s together with
prescription medicines can cause serious problems. For example, aspirin
should not be taken with warfarin (Coumadin). Be sure your doctor knows
what medicines you are taking and assures you that it is safe for you to
take your medicines together. Also ask about taking your medicines with
food. If you take alendronate (Fosamax) with food, for example, the drug
will be less effective. Herbal supplements also should be taken with care.
Gingko biloba, for instance, should not be taken with aspirin,
acetaminophen, warfarin, or thiazide diuretics because it may increase
blood pressure and the risk of bleeding problems.
You and your family should learn
about the medicines that you take and their possible side effects.
Remember, medicines that are strong enough to cure you can also be strong
enough to hurt you if they aren’t used correctly. Here are some hints to
help avoid risks and get the best results from your medicines:
At Home
DO keep a daily checklist of all the
medicines you take. Include both prescription and OTC medicines. Note the
name of each medicine, the doctor who prescribed it, the amount you take,
and the times of day you take it. Keep a copy in your medicine cabinet and
one in your wallet or pocketbook.
DO read and save any written
information that comes with the medicine.
DO check the label on your medicine
before taking it to make sure that it is for the correct person — you
— with the correct directions prescribed for you by your doctor.
DO take medicine in the exact amount
and precise schedule your doctor prescribes.
DO check the expiration dates on your
medicine bottles and throw away medicine that has expired.
DO call your doctor right away if you
have any problems with your medicines or if you are worried that the
medicine might be doing more harm than good. He or she may be able to
change your medicine to another one that will work just as well.
DO NOT take medicines prescribed for
another person or give yours to someone else.
DO NOT stop taking a prescription
drug unless your doctor says it’s okay — even if you are feeling
better.
DO NOT take more or less than the
prescribed amount of any medicine.
DO NOT mix alcohol and medicine
unless your doctor says it’s okay. Some medicines may not work well or
may make you sick if taken with alcohol.
At Your Doctor's Office
DO review your medicine record with
the doctor or nurse at every visit and whenever your doctor prescribes new
medicine. Your doctor may have new information about your medicines that
might be important to you.
DO always tell your doctor or nurse
about past problems you have had with medicines, such as rashes,
indigestion, dizziness or not feeling hungry.
DO always ask your doctor or nurse
about the right way to take any medicine before you start to use it.
DO ask these questions (and write
down the answers) before leaving your doctor’s office:
-What is
the name of the medicine and why am I taking it?
– What is the name of the condition this medicine will treat?
– How does this medicine work?
– How often should I take it?
– How long will it take to work?
– How will I know if this medicine is working?
– How can I expect to feel once I start taking this medicine?
– When should I take it? As needed? Before, with or between meals? At
bedtime?
– If I forget to take it, what should I do?
– What side effects might I expect? Should I report them?
– How long will I have to take it?
– Can this medicine interact with other medicines (prescription and
OTC’s including herbal and dietary supplements) that I am taking now?
– If I don’t take medicine, is there anything else that would work as
well?
At the Pharmacy
DO make sure you can read and
understand the medicine name and the directions on the container. If the
label is hard to read, ask your pharmacist to use larger type. Let your
pharmacist know if you have trouble opening the medicine bottle.
DO check the label on your medicine
before leaving the pharmacy to make sure that it is for the correct person
— you — and with the correct directions prescribed for you by your
doctor. If not, tell the pharmacist.
Resources
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Consumer Affairs Office
has more information about safe use of medicines. Contact:
FDA
5600 Fishers Lane
HFD - 210
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Telephone: 1-888-INFOFDA
(1-888-463-6332)
The Peter Lamy Center for Drug
Therapy and Aging has brochures and information
about medication use in the elderly. Contact:
University of MD School of Pharmacy
5506 West Fayette Street, Suite 101
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Telephone: 410-706-3011 (within Maryland) or 1-877-706-2434 (toll free
outside Maryland)
Fax: 410-706-1488
lamycenter@rx.umaryland.edu
The National Institute on Aging
(NIA) distributes a free booklet, Talking
with Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People. To order this booklet or
other free materials on health and aging, contact:
The National Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20898-8057
Telephone: 1-800-222-2225
TTY: 1-800-222-4225
http://www.nih.gov/
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