People
over age 65 make up 12 percent of the American population, but
they take 25 percent of all prescription drugs sold in this country.
As a group, older people tend to have more long-term 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.
Drugs
can be wonderful tools for the care of people of all ages. Many
people over age 65 owe their lives in part to new and improved
medicines and vaccines. But for older adults, drug use may have
risks, especially when several medicines are used at one time.
In
general, drugs act differently in older people than in younger
people. This may be due to normal changes in the body that happen
with age. For instance, as you get older, you lose water and lean
tissue (mainly muscle) and you gain more fat tissue. This can
make a difference in how long a drug stays in your body and how
much of the drug your body absorbs.
The
kidneys and liver are two important organs that breakdown and
remove most drugs from the body. As you age, these organs may
not work as well as they used to, and drugs may leave the body
more slowly.
Keep
in mind that "drugs" can mean both medicines prescribed
by your doctor and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that you buy
without a prescription. OTC’s can include vitamins and minerals,
laxatives, cold medicines, and antacids. Both prescription and
OTC drugs can cause serious problems. Be very careful to take
them exactly the way your doctor advises. To be safe, don’t
mix them together or with alcohol without first talking to your
doctor.
You
and your family should learn about the drugs you take and their
possible side effects. Remember, drugs that are strong enough
to cure you can also be strong enough to hurt you if they aren’t
used right.
The
following tips can help you avoid risks and get the best results
from your medicines.
- DO
take medicine in the exact amount and on the same schedule prescribed
by your doctor.
- DO
always ask your doctor about the right way to take any medicine
before you start to use it.
- DO
always tell your doctor about past problems you have had with
drugs, such as rashes, indigestion, dizziness, or not feeling
hungry.
- DO
keep a daily record of all the drugs you take. Include prescription
and OTC drugs. Note the name of each drug, 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
review your drug record with the doctor at every visit and whenever
your doctor prescribes new medicine. Your doctor often gets
new information about drugs that might be important to you.
- DO
make sure you can read and understand the drug name and the
directions on the container. If the label is hard to read, ask
your pharmacist to use large type.
- DO
check the expiration dates on your medicine bottles. Throw the
medicine away if it has passed this date.
- DO
call your doctor right away if you have any problems with your
medicines.
There
are also some things you should remember not to
do:
- DO
NOT stop taking a prescription drug unless your doctor says
it’s okay -- even if you are feeling better. If you are
worried that the drug might be doing more harm than good, talk
with your doctor. He or she may be able to change your medicine
to another one that will work just as well.
- DO
NOT take more or less than the prescribed amount of any drug.
- DO
NOT mix alcohol and medicine unless your doctor says it’s
okay. Some drugs may not work well or may make you sick if taken
with alcohol.
- DO
NOT take drugs prescribed for another person or give yours to
someone else.
Questions
To Ask Your Doctor
Before
leaving the doctor’s office, ask these questions:
- What
is the name of the drug and what will it do?
- How
often should I take it?
- How
long should I take it?
- When
should I take it? As needed? Before, with, after, 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?
- Is
there any material about this drug that I can take with me?
- If
I don’t take this drug, is there anything else that would
work as well?
Reference:
from the National Institute on Aging
