Polypharmacy refers to the concept of taking multiple types of medications simultaneously. Many seniors take more medications than they need and risks may occur. Older people metabolize medication differently than younger people so numerous pills can be very harmful.
The two main risks of polypharmacy in the elderly include exposure to many different side effects at once and harmful drug on drug interactions. This applies to prescription medication as well as over-the-counter medication.
Another notable concern is that a complex regimen can be hard for a senior to follow properly. It can easily get to a point where a patient does not know all the drugs prescribed or proper dosages. Medication errors can be very dangerous, especially if the medical team is not aware of all the drugs a patient is taking. The more medication a senior takes, the higher the risk for adverse reactions, negative side effects or even life-threatening conditions.
Some common adverse side effects of polypharmacy include confusion, sleepiness, propensity for falls, depression, hallucinations, dizziness and anxiety. Listed below find some tips for prevention of these adverse reactions:
- Make sure the entire medical team is on the same page and transparent about all medications.
- Create a complete list of medications, dosages and a detailed account of the regimen that is accessible to trusted family members and caregivers.
- Keep this medication list updated and make sure each physician has the most recent version in the patient’s file.
- Keep a folder of all the medication guides that come with prescriptions. This will be a handy reference if any drug on drug interactions occur or if you notice unusual symptoms.
- Use one pharmacy to fill all prescriptions. If possible, get to know your local pharmacist. This helps to minimize the chance that something will be overlooked.
- At least annually, review all medications with a physician and question the purpose of each one. It may be that conditions have improved and some of the medication can be removed or dosages lowered.
- Pharmacists have tools to enter a combination of medication into a database and determine whether there are any risks associated with the particular combination.
Polypharmacy is one of the gravest threats to seniors’ health, quality of life and longevity. Caregivers need to be alert to symptoms and unusual mood and behavior changes. At Stouffer Legal we care about our seniors and understand the hardships many caregivers face. For assistance in creating a long-term care plan, estate plan or advance care plan contact the elder law attorneys at Stouffer Legal in the Greater Baltimore area. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at (443) 470-3599, emailing us at office@stoufferlegal.com, or register for an upcoming free webinar using the link below:
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