Patient education: Taking medicines when you're older (The Basics)

Are some medicines unsafe for older people? — 

Yes, some medicines that are safe for younger adults are not safe for older adults. That's because as people get older, unwanted or harmful side effects from certain medicines become more common. Plus, the medicines last longer in the body.

The next time you see your doctor or nurse, put all your medicines into a bag and bring the bag with you. Include:

●All your prescription medicines

●All the non-prescription medicines you take, including vitamins and medicines such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin)

●Any herbal or "natural" products you take

During your visit:

●Ask if you should still be taking all your medicines. People sometimes end up taking more medicines than they really need.

●Ask whether the combination of medicines you take could cause a problem or "drug interaction." This is when a medicine, food, or supplement changes the effects of another medicine.

●Tell your doctor or nurse about any symptoms you are having that might be due to 1 of your medicines. They might be able to lower your dose, switch you to a different medicine, or deal with your symptoms in other ways.

●Tell your doctor or nurse if you can't afford your medicines. They might be able to switch you to a less expensive medicine or suggest other solutions.

Interactions — 

Sometimes, 2 medicines that are safe to take by themselves are unsafe to take together. When certain medicines are taken together, they can cause serious side effects or other problems. This can happen not just when 2 medicines are combined, but also when a medicine is combined with certain foods, or an herbal drug.

Side effects — 

People of all ages can have side effects from medicines, but older people are more likely to have some side effects. For example, older people are more likely to feel sleepy, confused, dizzy, or unsteady with certain medicines. This can be especially dangerous for them, because it increases the chances they will fall.

If you tend to feel sleepy, confused, dizzy, or unsteady, tell your doctor or nurse. They can help figure out if your medicines are causing this. If so, they might be able to lower your dose, switch you to a different medicine, or offer another solution. Even if your symptoms are not caused by your medicines, it's important for your doctor or nurse to know about them.

Ways to protect yourself — 

To lower the chance you'll have problems because of your medicines, follow these steps:

●Make sure your main doctor, and any other doctor or nurse who prescribes medicines for you, knows about all the medicines you take. This includes any over-the-counter or herbal medicines you use regularly. Ask your doctor or nurse to go over all your medicines with you at least once a year.

●Keep a list of all your medicines that includes the dose, why you take it, and the doctor or nurse who prescribed it. You can find an example of this list at this website: www.fda.gov/media/73856/download.

●Any time your doctor or nurse puts you on a new medicine, ask:

•Why am I taking this medicine?

•What are the common side effects to watch out for?

•What should I do if they happen?

•When should I stop this medicine?

•Can I take this medicine with my other medicines?

•What will happen if I don't take this medicine?

●When you pick up a new prescription, ask your pharmacist if there are foods, supplements, or other medicines you should avoid while taking the medicine. Your pharmacist is a great resource. Ask them any questions about your medicines.

●Keep medicines in their original containers, and read the instructions that come with them.

More on this topic

Patient education: Medication safety (The Basics)
Patient education: Why taking your medicine as prescribed is important (The Basics)
Patient education: Brand versus generic medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Side effects from medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Coping with high drug prices (The Basics)
Patient education: Going home from the hospital (The Basics)
Patient education: When you have multiple health problems (The Basics)

Patient education: Coping with high prescription drug prices in the United States (Beyond the Basics)