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Is Your Medication Helping or Hurting?
Adapted from adVANCES, the quarterly publication of the Alzheimer's Association of Chicago, Illinois.
It is often assumed that a drug prescribed by a physician is automatically safe. But when medications aren't properly used, serious, even fatal drug interactions can occur.
Individuals over age 65 are at the highest risk for dangerous drug interactions, since they consume 25 percent of prescription and non-prescription drugs. In addition, most have more than one physician or specialist administering care. "Danger occurs when a person is taking more than one prescription drug and is being treated by more than one physician," according to Raymond Woosley, chairman of pharmacology at Georgetown University.
As a person ages, the amount of water in the body decreases, making it difficult to dissolve various medications. Because the medications can't be diluted, their high concentrations can cause severe reactions or stay in the body longer.
People with Alzheimer's disease may be even more at risk, because they may not be able to communicate how a medication is making them feel. Caregivers may also have difficulty distinguishing between a drug reaction and the behavioral symptoms associated with the disease, such as disorientation, hallucinations, and confusion.
"Your physician should review all the medications you are taking at least annually," says Robert Carroll, MD, member of the Alzheimer's Association national board of directors. "This includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies."
When two drugs are taken together, the effects can be magnified, or in some cases, the drugs cancel each other out. This happens often with even the most common medications. "Antihistamines, pain killers, and ulcer medications all target the central nervous system and can cause excess sleepiness, drowsiness, and confusion when mixed," says Carroll. "These symptoms can often be misinterpreted as worsening dementia."
It is important to be proactive about learning the potential bad interactions that can occur from the drugs you are taking. The best way to protect yourself is to communicate with your physician. Discuss the medications you are taking and any current problems you are experiencing or being treated for by another specialist.
Posted August 3rd, 2007
It is often assumed that a drug prescribed by a physician is automatically safe. But when medications aren't properly used, serious, even fatal drug interactions can occur.
Individuals over age 65 are at the highest risk for dangerous drug interactions, since they consume 25 percent of prescription and non-prescription drugs. In addition, most have more than one physician or specialist administering care. "Danger occurs when a person is taking more than one prescription drug and is being treated by more than one physician," according to Raymond Woosley, chairman of pharmacology at Georgetown University.
As a person ages, the amount of water in the body decreases, making it difficult to dissolve various medications. Because the medications can't be diluted, their high concentrations can cause severe reactions or stay in the body longer.
People with Alzheimer's disease may be even more at risk, because they may not be able to communicate how a medication is making them feel. Caregivers may also have difficulty distinguishing between a drug reaction and the behavioral symptoms associated with the disease, such as disorientation, hallucinations, and confusion.
"Your physician should review all the medications you are taking at least annually," says Robert Carroll, MD, member of the Alzheimer's Association national board of directors. "This includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies."
When two drugs are taken together, the effects can be magnified, or in some cases, the drugs cancel each other out. This happens often with even the most common medications. "Antihistamines, pain killers, and ulcer medications all target the central nervous system and can cause excess sleepiness, drowsiness, and confusion when mixed," says Carroll. "These symptoms can often be misinterpreted as worsening dementia."
It is important to be proactive about learning the potential bad interactions that can occur from the drugs you are taking. The best way to protect yourself is to communicate with your physician. Discuss the medications you are taking and any current problems you are experiencing or being treated for by another specialist.
To protect yourself from an adverse reaction:
- Keep a list of all drugs you take and regularly discuss them with your physician.
- Select a pharmacist who provides comprehensive services. Have all your prescriptions filled there.
- Learn about the purpose, actions and side effects of all prescribed drugs.
- Learn how to take the drugs, what time of day to take them, and whether they can be taken at the same time as other drugs.
- Review the use of over-the-counter drugs with the pharmacist.
- Follow the recommended instructions for taking drugs.
- Report to your doctor or pharmacist any symptoms that might be related to the use of a drug.
"Protecting a person from adverse drug reactions is a team effort between the patient, caregiver, physician and pharmacist," concludes Carroll.
(From Merck Manual of Medical Information, 1997)
Compiled by the Lincoln/Greater Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 1999.
