Chances are that a senior person is taking at least a few prescription medications, if not several, for to meet their health and wellness needs. Getting the right medications at the right times is critical or there can be poor side-effects and interactions. To help you avoid issues, we at SeniorCare Solutions would like to elaborate on the common side medication-related issues concerning medication.
Dizziness, Balance Issues & Other Effects of Prescription Medicine on the Body
Quite a few commonly used drugs are known to make thinking and balance worse in aging adults. These side effects are common in the following medications.
– Anticholinergics are drugs that include includes those for an overactive bladder, vertigo, itching/allergy, nausea, and certain drugs for nerve pain or depression. Common examples of anticholinergic are Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, over-the-counter sleep aids and PM-version painkillers.
– Sedatives and tranquilizers are frequently prescribed for anxiety and sleep, which are examples of zolpidem and lorazepam. These medications are known to provoke confusion. If this is a concern, quite a few Geriatricians will stop or reduce the dosage of these drugs.
Medication Adherence
For a certain symptom, like heartburn, pain, incontinence, or depression, many older people will take prescription medication. It can be easy for doctors, and even patients, to postpone following up on the symptom indefinitely since primary care visits tend to be busy. Too frequently, medications are prescribed initially and sometimes, never adjusted. While not getting much benefit from the drug, older adults may end up with the risks and burden of taking a drug, including the cost.
Problems of Prescription Medications
Drug Interactions. It is not uncommon for some drugs to negatively interact with others. For instance, warfarin is usually used for a blood thinner and can interact with antibiotics as well as with other drugs.
Strong Effect of Drugs on Older Patients. Blood pressure medications of the wrong dose can bring blood pressure much lower than the goal blood pressure. When an older person stands, this can result in lightheadedness, or even falls.
Side Effects of Prescription Meds. Another example is that diabetes drugs can push blood sugar levels quite low. Falls and a faster cognitive decline have been linked to low blood sugar episodes. In many medication-related hospitalizations, drugs that lower blood sugar are involved.
Burden of Scheduling & Taking Medications. At several different times per day, many older adults end up with several pills. At worst, it becomes a serious drain on quality of life and at a minimum this is often a hassle. It can be challenging for many older patients to properly take their medication. This can cause serious effects on an older person’s health, depending on which medications are missed.
Medication Costs. The monthly costs of medications can be high even with prescription drug coverage provided by Medicare Part D. For those who often have limited financial resources, some people may skip medication regiment or not fill medications.
Senior Care Services in Greater New Braunfels, Texas
Especially when hospitalizations or multiple doctors are involved, there are of course many other medication-related problems that can occur. When you have your loved one partnering with SeniorCare Solutions, we monitor all medications to ensure our patients are well cared for. Contact us to learn more today!
