Improper Drug Use Could Be Dangerous for Elderly People

A major problem with medical treatment for the elderly is the large number of prescription medications the average older person is taking. Many older patients continue prescriptions with a number of doctors and specialists and no one doctor, not even the primary care physician, often knows the number or extent of medications being taken.

On average, a person over age 75 has five prescription drug medications and is using at least two over-the-counter medications as well as taking herbal supplements.  Over-the-counter medications and herbal preparations are not entirely harmless.  Adverse reactions can occur between various preparations of non-prescription drugs and often do occur between certain prescription drugs.

It is also surprising to some people that herbal supplements can cause drug interaction as well and in some cases might even result in death when used improperly with other medications.

Here is a list of herbal supplements that may interact or interfere with prescription drugs but this is not all-inclusive and there may be problems with other preparations as well.

·       Ginkgo Biloba

·       St. John's Wort

·       Saw Palmetto

·       Ginseng

·       Yohimbine

·       Senna Or Cascara

Doctors and pharmacists are generally careful about overdosing or using harmful mixtures of drugs, but other than amounts based on body weight, most prescription drugs do not have recommended dosages for older people. Often the doctor must experiment to find the right dosage and the problem is that many older people or their families fail to recognize drug reactions or they fail to report any problems to the doctor.

The elderly person or a responsible family member should always consult with the doctor and ask that doctor if a preparation and the amount being recommended is safe for an older person or what side effects are involved. It is not inappropriate to challenge a physician about medications. If prescription drugs are bought through a trusted pharmacist, the pharmacist may also be willing to consult on the safety of dosages for an older person.

Without the proper feedback, under-dosage or over-dosage might occur and effective treatment of the condition is not possible.  The cruel reality is improper dosage may cause more severe problems than the condition being treated.