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Medicines and You: A Guide for
Older Adults
• Aging and Health: You and Your Medicines
• Talk to Your Health Care Professionals
• What You Need to Know About Your Prescription
Medicines
• Taking Prescription Medicines
• Taking Over-the-Counter Medicines
• Cutting Medicine Costs
• Tips for Seniors on Safe Medicine Use
• More Information
Aging and Health: You and Your
Medicines
As you age, it is important to know about your medicines to avoid
possible problems. As you get older you may be faced with more
health conditions that you need to treat on a regular basis. It is
important to be aware that more use of medicines and normal body
changes caused by aging can increase the chance of unwanted or maybe
even harmful drug interactions.
The more you know about your medicines and the more you talk with
your health care professionals, the easier it is to avoid problems
with medicines.
As you age, body changes can affect the way medicines are absorbed
and used. For example, changes in the digestive system can affect
how fast medicines enter the bloodstream. Changes in body weight can
influence the amount of medicine you need to take and how long it
stays in your body. The circulation system may slow down, which can
affect how fast drugs get to the liver and kidneys. The liver and
kidneys also may work more slowly affecting the way a drug breaks
down and is removed from the body.
Because of these body changes, there is also a bigger risk of drug
interactions for older adults. Drug-drug interactions happen when
two or more medicines react with each other to cause unwanted
effects. This kind of interaction can also cause one medicine to not
work as well or even make one medicine stronger than it should be.
For example, you should not take aspirin if you are taking a
prescription blood thinner, such as Warfarin, unless your health
care professional tells you to.
Drug-condition interactions happen when a medical
condition you already have makes certain drugs potentially harmful.
For example, if you have high blood pressure or asthma, you could
have an unwanted reaction if you take a nasal decongestant.
Drug-food interactions result from drugs reacting
with foods or drinks. In some cases, food in the digestive track can
affect how a drug is absorbed. Some medicines also may affect the
way nutrients are absorbed or used in the body.
Drug-alcohol interactions can happen when the
medicine you take reacts with an alcoholic drink. For instance,
mixing alcohol with some medicines may cause you to feel tired and
slow your reactions.
It is important to know that many medicines do not mix well with
alcohol. As you grow older, your body may react differently to
alcohol, as well as to the mix of alcohol and medicines. Keep in
mind that some problems you might think are medicine-related, such
as loss of coordination, memory loss, or irritability, could be the
result of a mix between your medicine and alcohol.
For more information about alcohol and medicines, visit the U.S.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at
www.samhsa.gov.
What
Are Side Effects?
Some medicines can interact with other medicines, foods, drinks or
health conditions. Side effects are unplanned symptoms or feelings
you have when taking a medicine. Most side effects are not serious
and go away on their own; others can be more bothersome and even
serious. To help prevent possible problems with medicines, seniors
must know about the medicine they take and how it makes them feel.
Keep track of side effects to help your doctor know how your body is
responding to a medicine. New symptoms or mood changes may not be a
result of getting older but could be from the medicine you're taking
or another factor, such as a change in diet or routine. If you have
an unwanted side effect, call your doctor right away.
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Talk
to Your Health Care Professionals
It is important to go to all of your medical appointments and to
talk to your team of health care professionals (doctors,
pharmacists, nurses, or physician assistants) about your medical
conditions, the medicines you take, and any health concerns you
have.
It may help to make a list of comments, questions, or concerns
before your visit or call to a health care professional. Also, think
about having a close friend or relative come to your appointment
with you if you are unsure about talking to your health care
professional or would like someone to help you understand and/or
remember answers to your questions.
Here
are some other things to keep in mind:
All Medicines Count: Tell your team of health care
professionals about all the medicines you take, including
prescription and over-the-counter medicines, such as pain relievers,
antacids, cold medicines, and laxatives. Don't forget to include eye
drops, dietary supplements, vitamins, herbals, and topical
medicines, such as creams and ointments.
Keep in Touch with Your Doctors: If you regularly
take a prescription medicine, ask your doctor to check how well it
is working, whether you still need to take it, and, if so, whether
there is anything you can do (like lowering fats in your diet or
exercising more) to cut back or, in time, stop needing the medicine.
Don't stop taking the medicine on your own without first talking
with your doctor.
Medical History: Tell your health care professional
about your medical history. The doctor will want to know if you have
any food, medicine, or other allergies. He or she also will want to
know about other conditions you have or had and how you are being
treated or were treated for them by other doctors. It is helpful to
keep a written list of your health conditions that you can easily
share with your doctors. Your primary care doctor should also know
about any specialist doctors you may see on a regular basis.
Eating Habits: Mention your eating habits. If you
follow or have recently changed to a special diet (a very low-fat
diet, for instance, or a high-calcium diet), talk to your doctor
about this. Tell your doctor how much coffee, tea, or alcohol you
drink each day and whether you smoke. These things may make a
difference in the way your medicine works. Tell your health
professionals about your medical history and about all medicines or
supplements you take.
Recognizing and Remembering to Take Your Medicines:
Let your health care professional know if you have trouble telling
your medicines apart. The doctor can help you find better ways to
recognize your medicines. Also tell your doctor if you have problems
remembering when to take your medicines or how much to take. Your
doctor may have some ideas to help, such as a calendar or pill box.
Swallowing Tablets: If you have trouble swallowing
tablets, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for ideas. Maybe
there is a liquid medicine you could use or maybe you can crush your
tablets. Do not break, crush, or chew tablets without first asking
your health professional.
Your Lifestyle: If you want to make your medicine
schedule more simple, talk about it with your doctor. He or she may
have another medicine or ideas that better fits your lifestyle. For
example, if taking medicine four times a day is a problem for you,
maybe the doctor can give you a medicine you only need to take once
or twice a day.
Put It in Writing: Ask your health care
professional to write out a complete medicine schedule, with
directions on exactly when and how to take your medicines. Find out
from your primary care doctor how your medicine schedule should be
changed if you see more than one doctor.
Your
Pharmacist Can Help Too
One of the most important services a pharmacist can offer is to talk
to you about your medicines. A pharmacist can help you understand
how and when to take your medicines, what side effects you might
expect, or what interactions may occur. A pharmacist can answer your
questions privately in the pharmacy or over the telephone.
Here are some other ways your pharmacist can help:
- Many pharmacists
keep track of medicines on their computer. If you buy your
medicines at one store and tell your pharmacist all the
over-the-counter and prescription medicines or dietary supplements
you take, your pharmacist can help make sure your medicines don't
interact harmfully with one another.
- Ask your pharmacist
to place your prescription medicines in easy-to-open containers if
you have a hard time taking off child-proof caps and do not have
young children living in or visiting your home. (Remember to
keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.)
- Your pharmacist may
be able to print labels on prescription medicine containers in
larger type, if reading the medicine label is hard for you.
- Your pharmacist may
be able to give you written information to help you learn more
about your medicines. This information may be available in large
type or in a language other than English. Your pharmacist can help
keep track of your medicines.
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What You Need to Know About Your Prescription
Medicines
The following questions will help you get the information you need
when you visit your doctor and pharmacist. (These questions are
based on information found on the National Council on Patient
Information and Education's web site at
www.talkaboutrx.org.)
Before you leave the doctor's office with a new prescription, ask:
- What is the name of
the medicine and what is it supposed to do? Is there a less
expensive alternative?
- How and when do I
take the medicine and for how long?
- Whether to take it
with water, food, or with a special medicine, or at the same time
as other medicines.
- Can it be taken
with over-the-counter medicines? If so,when?
- What to do if you
miss or forget a dose.
- Whether you take it
before, during, or after meals.
- The timing between
each dose. For example, does "four times a day" mean you have to
take it in the middle of the night?
- What your doctor
means by "as needed."
- Are there any other
special instructions to follow?
- What foods, drinks,
other medicines, dietary supplements, or activities should I avoid
while taking this medicine?
- Will any tests or
monitoring be required while I am taking this medicine? Do I need
to report back to the doctor?
- What are the
possible side effects and what do I do if they occur?
- When should I
expect the medicine to start working, and how will I know if it is
working?
- Will this new
prescription work safely with the other prescription and
over-the-counter medicines or dietary supplements I am taking?
At the pharmacy, or wherever
you get your medicines, ask:
- Do you have a
patient profile form for me to fill out? Does it include space for
my over-the-counter drugs and my dietary supplements?
- Is there written
information about my medicine? Ask the pharmacist if it's
available in large print or in a language other than English if
you need it.
- What is the most
important thing I should know about this medicine? Ask the
pharmacist any questions that may not have been answered by your
doctor.
- Can I get a refill?
If so, when?
- How and where
should I store this medicine?
Keep a
Record of Your Medicines; Give Your Medicine Chest a Yearly Check-Up
To help you organize information about your medicines, list all the
prescription and over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements,
vitamins, and herbals you take. Bring this list with you when you
see your doctors and any other health care professional. It is very
important that each of them knows what medicines you are taking. The
list should include: the name of the medicine, the doctor who
prescribed it, how much and how often to take, instructions on how
to take the medicine, what it is taken for and any expected side
effects.
Remember to bring all over-the-counter medicines you take as well as
any dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbals. It is also important
to get rid of any expired medicines you may have.
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Taking Prescription Medicines
Follow your doctor's instructions and read (and keep) the package
insert information, if available. Have your doctor write down
instructions if you don't understand or are worried about forgetting
them.
Take your medicines for the whole time they are prescribed,
even if you feel better.
Take only your own medicines. Taking someone else's
medicine may hide your symptoms and make diagnosing your illness
more difficult for your doctor.
Know about your medicines. If you take more than
one medicine, be able to tell them apart by size, shape, color,
number or name imprint, form (tablet or capsule), or container.
Plan for medicines you need to take during the night.
If you need to take more than one medicine, try not to keep them by
your bedside. If you must, and there are no small children or pets
in your home, place the pills you will need during the night on your
bedside table. Turn on the light and make sure you're taking the
right medicine at the right time.
Before you travel, ask your doctor or pharmacist
how to adjust your medicine schedule to account for changes in time,
routine, and diet. Bring the phone numbers of your doctors and
pharmacists with you. When flying, carry your medicines with you; do
not pack them in your checked luggage. When traveling, always keep
medicines out of heat and direct sunlight.
If there are children in your home, remember to put
medicines out of their sight and reach, and don't take medicines in
front of them.
Get prescriptions refilled early enough to avoid
running out of medicine, which may cause problems with your medicine
schedule.
Organize your medicines at home. Many people use a
chart or written schedule to keep track of their medicines. Some
find containers with different colored caps, different sections or
with alarms that go off at set times helpful.
Keep medicines in a cool, dry place, away from bright light.
A kitchen cabinet or bedroom shelf may be good storage places.
Medicines should not be kept in places where heat and moisture can
alter their effectiveness. Do not keep medicines in the
refrigerator, unless your doctor or pharmacist, or the label, tells
you.
If you to buy medicines on the Internet, check the
web site for the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS)
program and seal of approval to make sure the site is properly
licensed and has been successfully reviewed and inspected by the
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (www.nabp.net).
Always keeps medicines in their original containers,
and never put more than one kind of medication in the same
container.
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Taking Over-the-Counter Medicines
Today's medicine cabinets contain a growing choice of
over-the-counter, OTC, medicines to treat a growing number of health
problems. Common OTC medicines include pain relievers, laxatives,
cough and cold products, and antacids. Some OTC medicines however,
can affect the way prescription medicines work or are used by the
body. Always talk with your doctor about all OTC medicines you take.
Here are some important tips to remember:
Always read and follow the directions on the medicine label.
OTC medicine labels give you all the information you need to take
the medicine the right way and tell you:
- Active and inactive
ingredients,
- What the medicine
is used for,
- Interactions or
side effects that could happen,
- How and when (or
when not) to take the medicine,
- Other warnings.
Choose OTC medicines that
have only the ingredients you need. It is a good idea to
only use medicines that treat the problems or symptoms you have. Ask
your pharmacist for help. If you are taking more than one medicine,
pay attention to the "active ingredients" to avoid taking too much
of the same ingredient.
Check for package tampering and the expiration date.
Don't buy medicines if the packaging has been broken or if the
expiration date has passed. The expiration date tells you the date
after which the product may not be as effective.
Talk to your doctor if taking an OTC medicine becomes a
regular habit. Most OTC medicines are only to be used for a
short time.
If you have questions about specific medicines, visit the National
Library of Medicine's web site at
www.medlineplus.gov and
click on "Drug Information."
Cutting Medicine Costs
Medicines are an important part of treating an illness because they
often allow people to remain active and independent. But medicine
can be expensive. Here are some ideas to help lower costs:
Tell your doctor if you are worried about the cost of your
medicine. Your doctor may not know how much your
prescription costs, but may be able to tell you about another less
expensive alternative.
Ask for a senior citizen's discount.
Shop around. Look at prices at different stores or
pharmacies. Lower medicine prices may not be a bargain if you need
other services, such as home delivery, patient medicine profiles, or
pharmacist consultation, or if you cannot get a senior citizen
discount.
Ask for medicine samples. If your doctor gives you
a prescription for a new medicine, ask your doctor for samples you
can try before filling the prescription. (Make sure you know the
right way to use the sample medicine and ask for any other important
product information.)
Buy bulk. If you need to take medicine for a long
period of time and your medicine does not expire quickly, you may be
able to buy a larger amount of the medicine for less money.
Try mail order. Mail-order pharmacies can provide
medications at lower prices. However, it is a good idea to talk with
your doctor before using such a service since there may not be a
health care professional there to talk to and it may take a few
weeks for medicine to get to you. Make sure to find a back-up
pharmacy in case there is a problem with the mail service.
Buy OTC medicines when they are on sale. Check the
expiration dates and use them before they expire. If you need help
choosing an OTC medicine, ask the pharmacist.
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Tips for Seniors on Safe Medicine Use
Learn about your medicines. Read medicine labels
and package inserts and follow the directions. If you have
questions, ask your doctor or other health care professionals.
Talk to your team of health care professionals
about your medical conditions, health concerns, and all the
medicines you take (prescription and OTC medicines), as well as
dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbals. The more they know, the
more they can help. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Keep track of side effects or possible drug interactions
and let your doctor know right away about any unexpected symptoms or
changes in the way you feel.
Make sure to go to all doctor appointments and to
any appointments for monitoring tests done by your doctor or at a
laboratory.
Use a calendar, pill box or other things, to help you
remember what you need to take and when. Write down information your
doctor gives you about your medicines or your health condition.
Take along a friend or relative to your doctor's
appointments if you think you might need help to understand
or to remember what the doctor tells you.
Have a "Medicine Check-Up"at least once a year. Go
through your medicine cabinet to get rid of old or expired medicines
and also ask your doctor or pharmacist to go over all of the
medicines you now take. Don't forget to tell them about all the OTC
medicines or any vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbals you
take.
Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
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More Information
- U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services www.dhhs.gov
- Administration on Aging
www.aoa.gov, 202-619-0724,
AoAInfo@aoa.gov
- Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality, www.ahrq.gov
- Food and Drug Administration,
www.fda.gov, 1-888-INFO-FDA
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration,
www.samhsa.gov
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, 1-800-662-HELP
- National Institutes of
Health,
www.nihseniorhealth.gov
- National Institute on Aging
Information Center,
www.niapublications.org
1-800-222-2225, 1-800-222-4225 TTY
- National Library of Medicine,
www.medlineplus.gov
- Council on Family Health,
www.cfhinfo.org
Council on Family Health (www.cfhinfo.org).
Provided in cooperation with U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov)
and the Administration on Aging (www.aoa.gov)
Consumer Education: Ensuring
Safe Use of Medicine
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Date created: May 11, 2004; Updated August 17, 2005 |
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