What can be done to help older adults take medications safely? Take care to avoid some of the more common medication mistakes, such as taking drugs incorrectly or taking more than is prescribed. Pill dispensers, organizers and even reminder services can also be useful tools for some.
That being said, nothing substitutes for responsible caregiver advocacy and being proactive about the drugs we and our loved ones are taking.
Here are some other tips to keep in mind:
1. Ask your provider if the dosage is age-appropriate.
Because of the way our bodies metabolize various drugs as we get older, seniors can be more sensitive to some drugs and less sensitive to others. They are also more likely to experience adverse effects. Double-check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure that the dosage on the prescription is age-appropriate, and ask if it’s advisable to start with a lower dose and taper upwards.
2. Be aware of medications deemed unsafe for seniors.
The Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults, put together by the American Geriatric Society, is a list of medications that older adults should avoid or use with caution. Some pose a higher risk of side effects or interactions, while others are simply less effective. For instance, commonly prescribed sedatives in the benzodiazepine category, like diazepam (Valium), are on the “avoid for certain conditions” list because older adults may be more sensitive to these drugs. Ask your pharmacist if any of your loved one’s medications are on the caution list, and whether you should be concerned.
3. Bring a medications list — or the medications themselves — to the doctor with you.
Take your list of prescription medications — a list of over-the-counter drugs and any herbal supplements you might be taking — and bring it to the doctor’s office with you, or to a pharmacist. The more information your provider has, the more accurately they can pinpoint any potential adverse effects or drug interactions.
4. Check on prescriber behavior in Prescriber Checkup.
Rather alarmingly, Medicare may not monitor prescription safety as effectively or as closely as we might like, as noted in a ProPublica report. “In 2010 alone, health-care professionals wrote more than 500,000 prescriptions for the drug [carisoprodol] to patients 65 and older,” says the report — a drug that was pulled from the European market in 2007 and is on the Beers caution list. If you have concerns about a provider, or if you simply want more information about the drugs prescribed in your area, check ProPublica’s online Prescriber Checkup tool.
5. Closely monitor medication compliance in the cognitively impaired.
If your loved one shows signs of confusion about their medications, or has been diagnosed with cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, or another form of dementia, do not allow them to manage or take their own medications. If they are simply having trouble tracking their medications, a reminder system may be helpful, but the situation is more serious if your loved one is cognitively impaired. Taking medications incorrectly can be harmful or fatal.
6. Create and maintain an up-to-date medication list.
American Nurse Today says, “keep an accurate list of all medications, including generic and brand names, dosages, dosing frequency and reason for taking the drug.” This can help reduce the risk of polypharmacy.
7. Get a second opinion if you are uncertain.
Not all providers are alike, and there are, unfortunately, some doctors who prescribe medications inappropriately, in excess, or for unapproved uses. If you are concerned about a prescription or a diagnosis, don’t be afraid to seek out a second opinion.
8. Know the side effect profile of your medications.
Knowing the potential side effects and interactions can help you stay alert to any health changes that may occur in response to a new medication or combination of medications. If you do notice health changes, contact a physician right away. Some side effects can mimic other health conditions, including dementia, so make sure to bring a list of your medications to every doctor visit. This will help the provider properly diagnose the problem — and help the patient avoid unnecessary or dangerous medications.
9. Make sure the pharmacy label says why you are taking the prescription.
This is particularly important for older adults who are taking multiple medications, to ensure that they know what each medication is for and how to take it properly. It can also help caregivers police whether their loved one is being given too many medications to treat the same issue, or whether a less scrupulous provider has prescribed a drug for a purpose it wasn’t intended to treat.
10. Minimize the number of providers and pharmacists you use.
Keeping the number of doctors and pharmacies to a minimum is better for you and better for the providers who must coordinate care. “The primary-care provider and specialists must maintain good communication with each other to prevent or minimize problems,” says American Nurse Today. They also advise people to “use only one pharmacy to obtain medications; this adds another level of review to help ensure appropriate dosage and reduce the risk of adverse drugs effects and interactions.”
11. Talk to the pharmacist and ask questions.
If you have any concerns at all about the combination of medications you or your loved one is taking, or how a new medication will affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Learn about the potential dosage, proper storage, side effects and anything else that will help you take medications correctly. You should also talk to your provider if you are thinking of stopping a medication.
12. Tell your provider about any previous adverse drug effects.
This one might go without saying, but if you or your loved one has had a bad reaction to any medication in the past, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
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