How to Protect Elderly Loved Ones from Harmful Drug Interactions

El Paso TX

24 November, 2020

10:52 AM

Description

EL PASO - November 24, 2020 - If you’re one of 41 million caregivers in America caring for a senior who takes any medications, you should be aware of the potential for an adverse drug event (ADE). An ADE occurs when a person is harmed as a result of medication, and is thought to cause between 10 and 30 percent of all hospital admissions in older patients. With 1 in 6 older adults now regularly using a combination of prescription and over-the-counter medications, the likelihood of a hazardous drug interaction is not uncommon. Why are older patients more at risk?Since older adults take more medications, there’s greater opportunity for an ADE. Other reasons that seniors are more at risk include: They take multiple medications - Including those that help with the side effects of other medications, the risks for harmful drug interactions increases with each additional prescription.They may metabolize medications differently than younger patients - Due to changes in their bodies through natural aging, they may not be able to break down medications as rapidly, causing more side effects.Clinical trials may not always test new medications on patients over 65 years of age - The impact of many medications is not studied as well within the senior population, presenting more risks and side effects for seniors who take new medication. How to take charge of managing medications Improving medication safety for your elderly loved one doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Here are need-to-know tips on how to manage medication in seniors: Keep an updated list of all medications at all times to bring to all doctors appointments - It’s important to provide the primary care physician with a current list of all medications the patient takes, this is helpful because new prescriptions from a specialty physician or hospitalization may not always be communicated to the primary care physician’s office. Be prepared to review the medication list and ask questions – For instance, are there less invasive medication combinations to help address this illness/ailment? Is there a way to make it easier for the patient? Most importantly, if you think your loved one may be having an adverse reaction, tell the doctor as soon as possible.Maintaining continuous evaluation and keeping everyone aware - This is the first line of defense in avoiding potential medication-related harm.Make sure your loved one takes the medications properly - Create simple, easy to follow steps to ensure your loved one takes their medication as prescribed. Organizing the set of pills by day, and even time of day, in a pill organizer can help. Creating individualized pill packs and placing them out for the day or setting alarms and reminders can help, too. Build a relationship with your local pharmacist - They can help you understand the potential risks and side effects that the patient may experience and give you insights on any danger signs.Consider filling all prescriptions at one pharmacy - They can help monitor for any potential hazardous drug interactions. Educate yourself on the top hazardous drug interactions Being aware of the most common drug interactions can help reduce the risk of ADE’s. Two resources to help identify medications that older adults should avoid include: The Healthy Aging website - Provides an overview of medications older people should avoid or take with extreme caution, as well as risks associated with alternative medication options.The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults - Educational guidelines for providers, pharmacists, payors and patients on how certain medications may affect an eldery patient. You can consult the Beers list directly to identify potential drug-drug interactions. What to watch forSome of the most common adverse events from drug interactions include: Excess bleedingIncreased dizziness and/or fallingWorsening of one or more illnessesSome side effects are serious enough to require hospitalization or may result in death Talk to a doctor or pharmacist to find out the best approach if your loved one is prescribed medications in combination and what specific signs to keep in mind. Regular, on-going monitoring and management, and working with the individual and their clinical care team is the best method for supporting a loved one’s care. For additional information and insight, consult your physician or local pharmacist.  About El Paso Integral Care (EPIC) IPA El Paso Integral Care (EPIC) is the only locally owned Independent Physician Association (IPA) in El Paso. With the broadest geographic coverage in El Paso, EPIC brings together 20 primary care doctors and access to dozens of specialists to provide evidence-based medicine to seniors in the El Paso region. EPIC emphasizes preventive care, data sharing and population health management to provide quality healthcare with the end goal of improving patient health and lives.