• 07
  • December
    2011

According to researchers, elderly persons and their doctors need to be more careful in monitoring medications taken for chronic conditions in order to ensure they're working like they should. While this may seem obvious, things don't always work out that way.

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at nearly 100,000 emergency hospitalizations for adverse drug reactions and found that four categories of medications were responsible for third-thirds of emergency room visits in persons over 65 years of age. Those categories were the blood thinner warfarin, anti-platelet medications such as Plavix, and insulin and blood-sugar lowering medications such as metformin, Actos, and Avandia.

Some medications may require more frequent doctor monitoring in order that patients don't experience any adverse effects from not getting enough or getting too much.

While doctors are ultimately responsible for any medical judgments in the course of the care of a patient, patients need to pay attention to their care as well. According to the American Association of Family Practitioners, there are a number of things patients can do to ensure they are taking medication safely.

  • Get oral and written instruction from your prescribing doctor regarding the dosage and use of medications. Be sure you understand those instructions.
  • Make sure the drug label matches the medication and dosage the doctor prescribed.
  • Be sure you understand any possible side effects of the medication, and take advantage of any medication counseling offered when you fill your prescription.
  • Be diligent about scheduling any blood tests ordered by your doctor, as these may indicate the need to change your dosage.
  • Never take medications without your doctor's approval, particularly if you are already on a medication or any kind of vitamin, supplement, or herbal remedy.

Following these tips would help many to avoid needless side effects, complications, and even deaths.

Source: Boston.com, "Weekly challenge: 5 steps to lower your risk of dangerous drug side effects," Deborah Kotz, November 28, 2011.