Overuse of prescription drugs is dangerous for the elderly.

Elderly people who take too many prescription drugs can aggravate or cause a series of problems such as heart disease, blood pressure disorders, drowsiness, increased risk of falls, dementia...

Using too many prescription drugs is very dangerous for the elderly - Photo: FREEPIK

According to The Washington Post, taking too many medications, also known as polypharmacy, can affect people of all ages, but is especially dangerous for the elderly - people who often have multiple illnesses at the same time and whose bodies no longer process medications as well as when they were younger.

Julie Cusick was already taking a lot of medication for chronic lung disease. At least four specialists prescribed new drugs to treat psychiatric, cognitive and other problems. Then a car accident made things worse.

“They bombarded her with drugs. One after another,” said her sister, Joanne Cusick. As Julie continued to deteriorate and become more confused, they prescribed more drugs, including a dementia drug and two antipsychotics, which the sisters later learned were never meant to be taken together.

A geriatric psychiatrist finally realized that Julie was not suffering from dementia or psychosis, and gradually weaned her off unnecessary medications. A pulmonologist is trying to wean her off, or even completely off, the lung medications she had been taking for years. She is now alert and active, living alone in a senior housing complex. She takes classes at a senior center, goes to the gym, and makes new friends.

Older adults who take too many prescription medications can aggravate or cause a range of problems, including heart disease, blood pressure problems, drowsiness or loss of balance, increased risk of falls, dementia, or make confusion or drowsiness worse in people who already have cognitive impairment.

The more medications you take, the more likely you are to have drug interactions. You may also continue taking a medication for much longer than your prescribing doctor originally intended.

The dangers of polypharmacy are widely recognized. The American Geriatrics Society has since established criteria for safe prescribing. Medical groups have also promoted “age-friendly” care. Doctors, nurses, and other health care providers are encouraged to be more careful and check everything a patient is taking. Yet research shows that overprescribing and its consequences continue.

Ideally, healthcare providers would conduct medication reviews to determine which medications are useful and which are not. But this doesn’t always happen. And even in a very good system, mistakes can happen.

“People keep hoarding medications. Especially when they see different doctors, the medication list keeps getting longer,” said Dr. Susan Parks, director of geriatrics at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Patients here are given a marked brown paper bag to bring everything they are taking – both prescription and over-the-counter – for assessment. Some medications are “discontinued,” accompanied by an explanation and reassurance that they are not taking them.
will be better.

Sometimes patients and doctors have to weigh the pros and cons. For example, a patient may want to continue taking an incontinence medication even though it may cause dizziness or confusion. The doctor will then help minimize the risks. But sometimes, instead of working to stop the medication, prescriptions pile up.

DAWN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dung-qua-nhieu-thuoc-ke-don-rat-nguy-hiem-voi-nguoi-cao-tuoi-20250810233212806.htm