Have you ever wondered why, as you age, medications seem to affect you differently? There’s a scientific explanation for it and a whole world of cautionary advice to help you navigate through it all. This picked interest will journey you through the intriguing facts of how medications impact older adults differently. But first, let’s build a foundation by discussing some basic changes that occur in the body as we age.
Changes in the Body
As you age, your body’s ability to break down or eliminate substances can decrease. The implication of this is that medications may remain in your system longer. Prolonged stays of these drugs can breed complications, hence older adults may need lower doses or different medications that are safer for them.
Unique Needs of Older Adults
In most cases, due to the bodily adjustments, older adults need lower doses of medications than younger adults. A healthcare professional should usually commence with a lower dose, then gradually raise it to the target quantity to secure its benefits while side-lining side effects. Some medications are less safe for older adults. It is recommended that you always cooperate with your healthcare provider to opt for age-friendly medications.
The Significance of Correct Prescriptions
Simply put, a square peg in a round hole doesn’t fit, right? Similarly, the wrong medication for a given condition spells a recipe for disaster. Ensuring that the correct medication is prescribed for the correct condition is a cornerstone in managing treatment for older adults. Getting the right medication for you – considering your age and health conditions is equally critical. And even more critical is taking the exact dose for the right duration as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
The AGS Beers Criteria®
The American Geriatrics Society, through the “AGS Beers Criteria®,” provides a guideline that lists medications deemed unsafe for older adults. You may find it useful to reference this criteria when discussing your medication with your healthcare provider.
Multiple Medical Conditions
Often, older adults grapple with multiple medical conditions. This fact can affect how medications react in the body since the treatment for one condition could worsen another. For instance, an older adult with memory issues may experience deteriorated symptoms due to medicines used for other conditions.
Food and Beverages Interaction with Medications
Surprisingly, your favorite dish or beverage might affect your medication. For instance, some antibiotics do not get along well with foods, drinks, or medicines that contain calcium, magnesium, or iron. Therefore, your regular antacids, vitamins, or dairy products might be in conflict with your antibiotics. To avoid such clashes, it’s crucial to share the list of your regular food and beverages, including supplements/herbals, with the pharmacist whenever you pick up your medicines.
Medication Interactions
The reality for many older people is that they might be on more than one medication. Compound this with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products, and you have high chances of medication interactions. These interactions can potentially morph a drug’s effect, making it stronger, weaker, or introducing harmful side effects.
Other Factors Affecting Medications
Did you know that your lifestyle habits such as nicotine and caffeine use, alcohol consumption, diet, and even the occurrence of illnesses and infections can influence your medications? For example, caffeine can boost pain relief and help some pain relievers work better.
Side Effects
The side effects of medications can hurt older adults, limiting their daily activities. Older adults may experience side effects like headache and confusion, dizziness, falls, changes in weight, and disturbance in memory or thinking process.
Polypharmacy
As you grow older, it’s very common to have more than one medical condition simultaneously. Most times, managing these multiple health conditions demands the intake of more than one medication. This is referred to as “polypharmacy.” With polypharmacy comes the elevated risk of medication interactions and associated harm.
The Need to Keep Track of Medications
Considering that many older adults get their medications from different healthcare professionals, it is vital to maintain a list of your current medications. This helps to prevent harmful side effects and lessen drug interactions.
Prescribing Cascade
A prescribing cascade occurs when a side effect of one medication is mistaken for a new condition and then treated with another medication. It’s crucial to prevent this cascade that could lead to unnecessary prescriptions and increase your risk of having more side effects or drug interactions.
To conclude, the biodynamics of medications in older adults is an intriguing subject on its own. But it’s one that can be safely navigated by keeping an active line of communication with your healthcare providers, always discussing your conditions, symptoms, and associated medication before any prescription is made. Stay informed, stay healthy!