Medications are no joke, and it is extremely important to make sure your senior is properly managing them. As age rises, it seems that the number of prescribed drugs also increases and polypharmacy prevention becomes more significant. Polypharmacy is the prescription of multiple medications for conditions and could lead to dangerous drug interactions and potential side effects.
Taking multiple medications in elderly years is linked with functional decline, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, and other issues. As a senior or a caretaker, you should be keeping track of the medications you or your loved one are taking and educating yourself. Here are some ways to avoid polypharmacy and to help manage prescriptions.
5 Tips for Polypharmacy Prevention
1. Make a list
Writing down all of your prescriptions and bringing the list to your appointments is a simple way to keep track of what you are taking. In addition to prescriptions, include vitamins and any over-the-counter (OTC) drugs you are taking. You should also write down the times you are taking each drug, or if you are taking different ones at the same time.
Your care providers should be able to tell you if there is any risk for adverse interactions. If you have multiple care providers, this list can also keep them updated on what other doctors are prescribing. You should carry this list with you everywhere, or have one for home and one for when you’re on the go.
2. Know the purpose of the prescription
With multiple medications, sometimes it is easy to forget what’s what. Make sure the label clearly states what the drug is treating, as well as when to take it. This can provide an easy way to see if you are being prescribed too many medications for the same problem. Also, it can help point out if you are taking an off-label drug, which can pose concerns.
3. Use pillboxes safely
While pill organizers can be very beneficial in separating your day-to-day pills, it can also be very dangerous. Some pills are hard to distinguish from others, especially at an old age when memory begins to decline. Using different boxes for different times of day and labeling them is a good habit to get into. It would also be favorable to tell your healthcare provider you are using them and to have someone verify that you are using it correctly.
4. Ask questions
If you are unsure of something, ask! You should always consult your doctor or a pharmacist before taking a new medication, even if it’s OTC. This is where your list can especially come in handy. Pharmacists can search for drug interactions, but only if they have all of the information.
You can also ask during your appointment about any possible interactions, and even if you really need that drug. There is usually more than one way to treat health issues, so there may be alternatives that could add to your efforts in polypharmacy prevention.
5. Use the Internet
In addition to talking with your providers and pharmacists, the Internet can be a useful tool for researching the drugs you are taking. For example, on WebMD, you can search by the medication or condition and view “uses” and “how to use” for the drug you are taking. You can also use the Interaction Checker to input the medications you are taking to see if there are any signs of danger.
If using the Internet, take caution that the information may not be completely up-to-date or accurate. While WebMD is a reliable source, it can be hard to guarantee that everything is correct and current. Checking multiple websites to see if the information matches up can limit the amount of false information.
Keep in mind that while the Internet is a very useful and convenient tool, you should still always consult your doctor or pharmacist for the most accurate information and to stay educated on polypharmacy prevention.
