$Unique_ID{BRK01593}
$Pretitle{Ill Defined Symptoms and Rare Diseases}
$Title{Older People and Medicines}
$Subject{medication aging health problems}
$Volume{N-23}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Older People and Medicines


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QUESTION:  I have noticed that my doctor seems more concerned about all my
medicines than in my younger days.  He has even changed the dose on some
medicines I have taken for years.  Is there any reason for all this checking?

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ANSWER:  Older people use more medicines than the younger ones, and they are
also much more susceptible to drug reactions and interactions.  Most drug
studies are conducted among young and middle-aged persons, so drug problems
are not always identified quickly in older people.  For this reason and
several others, caution is important.
     As we age, our bodies change.  These changes affect the way drugs are
absorbed and used in our bodies.  For instance, the older adult has a slower
blood flow to the kidneys.  This changes the rate a drug is excreted from the
body.  If the drug stays in the body for a longer period of time than
expected, the dosage should be altered in order to avoid overloading the body
with the drug.
     Distribution of the drug in the body's tissues may be altered in older
people when blood flow slows down and other factors are changed.  The older
body typically has more fat than muscle, so fat-soluble drugs are not
distributed as they would be in younger persons.
     Older people are usually more sensitive to anticoagulants, narcotics and
anti-hypertensive drugs.  Barbiturates may create more sedation than usual or
may cause agitation.  Antihistamines, including those found in over the
counter preparations, may create more drowsiness.
     Older individuals also have more chronic health problems that can
interfere with the actions of drugs as well as taking the medicines as
previously prescribed.  Health problems become more complex, and this may
require taking several different drugs prescribed by different doctors.  The
most important piece of advice I can give you is this:  whenever medication is
prescribed, be sure your doctor knows about every other medicine you are
taking, whether by prescription from another physician or something purchased
over the counter at your pharmacy.  This will permit a careful choice of your
new medicine, and help avoid drug interaction problems.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
