Using Medications Appropriately

Misuse of Medications

Improper use of medications can be a real problem for elders. Many seniors are on medication and many are taking more than one drug at a time. An average elder may take three to five different medications each day. In the United States, people over 65 consume one quarter of all the medications sold. Seniors are more likely to misuse drugs than to abuse them. However, drug abuse does occur, mostly in regard to prescription medicines.

Why do elders misuse medications?

There are a number of reasons why the misuse of medications can be a problem for seniors:

Older people may use medication for physical changes that are a natural result of the aging process. For example, sleep patterns change with age, so that elders may not sleep eight uninterrupted hours each night. Elders who do not understand this may begin to rely on sleep medications.

The physiological changes that result from aging can affect the way that drugs are metabolized or excreted by the body. A medication may stay in the body of an older person longer than in a younger person. If it is taken too often, the level of the drug may rise enough to cause dangerous side effects. Seniors also become more sensitive to the effects of many drugs, and a dose which is appropriate for a younger person may be too high for an elder.

Older people may not understand what all the medications are that they are taking, or even exactly why they are taking them. Sometimes, doctors do not take the time to explain the reasons for the medications to patients, or they are not able to communicate effectively with the patient. As a result, seniors may neglect to take a medication, or may not take it at the proper time.

Addiction can result from improper use of medication, such as taking painkillers for a long period of time. Addiction then causes a continuing misuse of the drug.

What are the signs of overuse or misuse of medications?

a disorganized medicine cabinet with many bottles

prescriptions with missing labels, or that have expired

a lack of understanding on the part of the elder as to what medications he or she is taking

taking medications at irregular, or unscheduled intervals, especially to relieve an uncomfortable symptom

an adverse reaction to a drug (e.g. disorientation, or sleepiness)

signs of dependency or addiction, like fear of running out of the drug or not having it close by

What can be done to prevent misuse of medications?

There are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce this problem. First of all, seniors are more likely to comply with a drug regimen if they clearly understand what they are taking, and why. Doctors and caregivers need to make sure that the elder has a good understanding of the medication and its effects

Secondly, if an elder is taking more than one medication, he or she may it helpful to use a medication calender, or an alarm clock set to go off at regular intervals.

Finally, elders need to understand that some bodily changes, like sleep patterns, or aches and pains, are a normal part of aging, and may not require medication. Often, we reach for medications when they are not needed, and may have negative side effects that far outweigh their benefits.

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