Elderly Warned: Watch Your Meds
Many older Americans are being prescribed medications that they might be better off without. On The Saturday Early Show, CBS News Health Contributor Dr. Emily Senay reports on the findings published in this week's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
A panel of experts has deemed 33 drugs as inappropriate for the elderly because of potentially dangerous side effects. Dr. Senay has some tips on avoiding inappropriate medications in the elderly.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND PHARMACIST. It's very important sit down with your doctor. Review all your medications and determine if you still need to take them. Ask your doctor if he or she has the latest data on the drugs you are taking that includes any information on side effects. It's also a good idea to speak with your pharmacist. It is their job to know about side effects and how different drugs react with one another. They may have more up-to-date information than your doctor has.
GO SLOWLY. Any time an elderly person starts taking a new drug, they should start gradually. This better allows the doctor to see how well you react to the new drug. As we said before, the metabolism of any elderly patient is different from that of a younger patient.
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES. Not every ailment requires drugs. Ask your doctor if there is anything you can do besides taking medication that may alleviate whatever problem you have.
One reason why doctors may prescribe some of these drugs is lack of evidence and consensus on what constitutes appropriate drug use. Also, doctors often aren't aware enough of the different effects of a drug in younger and older patients.
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More on what Dr. Senay has to say on the issue.
WHAT DID THIS STUDY FIND?
This study looked at elderly Americans who still live in a home setting - whether it be their own house or that of a family member. Researchers found that 1 in 5 of those patients is prescribed drugs that can have serious side effects -- drugs that can leave them dazed, groggy and susceptible to falls. It's something we've been aware of for years; this study just confirms what a serious problem it is. The issue of inappropriate drugs for older patients is becoming more important, as the population ages. This study supports the need for better medical education.
WHY IS THIS SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM?
There are several reasons. First, elderly people tend to take more drugs than younger patients do. Elderly people also take their medications for longer periods of time. Another important reason is that drugs metabolize differently in the elderly. That means medications don't clear from the kidneys and liver as quickly.
WHAT KIND OF DRUGS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
The authors of the study convened a panel of experts and came up with 33 potentially inappropriate drugs. The list includes commonly used barbiturates, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, and anti-depressants.
SO DOES THIS STUDY SAY THAT THESE DRUGS NEVER CAN BE TAKEN BY THE ELDERLY?
No, what the panel did was create three categories. The first category has drugs that always should be avoided, and that includes barbiturates. Category two has drugs that are rarely appropriate, including several muscle relaxers. The third category, which includes several anti-depressants, has drugs that can be used in certain cases.
IS THE DRUG INDUSTRY TO BLAME FOR THIS PROBLEM?
Many people like to point fingers at the drug industry, but that would be wrong in this case. Most of the culprit products are so old that they barely are promoted anymore. But they continue to be prescribed because doctors have been using these drugs for years and often are unaware of the different effects of a drug on older patients.
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