Education About Your Medication
Did you know that people over 65 use more than 30% of all prescription drugs and 40% of all over-the-counter medications sold in the United States? Over-medication is a common and serious medical condition, yet often overlooked or unrecognized. Anyone can become over-medicated, but older people are especially vulnerable. This is partly because they take more prescriptions (on average 7 to 10 daily with some taking as many as 20) and also because they tend to metabolize drugs more slowly. Experts say that adverse reactions to medications are thought to cause 32,000 hip fractures; 16,000 auto accidents; 163,000 cases of memory loss or dementia; and 659,000 hospitalizations. These facts make clear how important it is for you, your doctors, your pharmacist, and if applicable, your caregiver to know the medications, their dosages, and directions for taking.
The National Council on Patient Information and Education recommends that you ask the following questions every time you get a new prescription medicine:
- What is the name of the medicine and what is it supposed to do?
- How much of the medicine should I take, when should I take it, and for how long?
- What foods, beverages, other medicines, or activities should I avoid while taking it?
- What are the possible side effects and what should I do if they occur?
- What written material is available about the medicine?
Often times irrational behaviors in older citizens are written off to "old age" when in fact the behaviors are drug-induced. Confusion, drowsiness, slow thinking, facial tics, slurred speech, or even hallucinations can all be caused by too much medication or adverse interactions between two or more medicines, including over-the-counter products. Don’t hesitate in asking your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about the medications you are taking and if they are working together properly. Check with your doctors regularly to see if medications are still necessary for you to take, but never stop taking a medication without your doctor’s supervision.
There are many different ways you can organize your medications to ensure you take them correctly. For ideas on how to set up a system that works for you, contact Linda Warner, Senior Outreach Specialist at Heartland Human Services, (217) 347-7179.