One-third of the cases of hospitalization in senior citizens occur because of a lack of proper management of medication. People age 65 or older sometimes take several types of medication, including those for depression, diabetes and heart problems. They sometimes forget to take the medication or perhaps cannot afford to buy it. The doctor prescribes medication for certain reasons, and failure to respect the doctor’s directions can lead to serious problems. Additionally, side effects of drugs can worsen when combined with other medication. Keeping your prescription up to date at all times and informing medical staff of all the medicine you take proves essential for avoiding unnecessary damage to the health.

Too Much Can Be Harmful
Senior citizens tend to have liver and kidney problems, and high medication levels can do a lot of harm. You must consult with your doctor and pharmacist on a regular basis. Make a list of your symptoms for the medication you take and present it to your doctor at your next appointment. The physician can change the doses of your medication according to how you feel, or she might choose a different treatment path. People who take several prescription drugs should go to their doctor’s office every couple of months to get an updated medication list. When you go to the doctor, take you medicine bottles with you so the communication with your doctor remains efficient and clear.

Keep a List of Your Medicines with You
Drug errors often occur in cases of medical emergencies. Senior citizens should always have a list of the medicines they take in their wallet or somewhere on hand in the house. When a person is hospitalized, the medical staff should know the complete list of drugs the patient takes. Drugs interact and side-effects can prove very dangerous. It is therefore of paramount importance to provide medical staff with a detailed list of all your medication. Drug errors also occur after leaving the hospital. The hospital staff might prescribe medication that interacts with the drugs prescribed by your doctor. Go to your regular physician the next day after leaving the hospital to get an update on your medication list and avoid unnecessary problems. Failure to do so might result in another hospitalization shortly after the first.

Trust Your Doctor, Your Body
Trust your doctor and take all the medicine she prescribes, but also trust the signals your body sends. If you start taking a new medication and have worrying symptoms, make a new appointment with your doctor to discuss your concerns. Senior citizens sometimes confuse side effects of medication with signs of old age. Medication should make patients feel better. Any symptom out of the ordinary should raise a question mark, and then you should discuss it with the medical staff. Don’t take side effects of medication lightly, as they account for 7000 deaths per year in the Unites States. If you experience adverse effects, it doesn’t necessarily mean your doctor erred; it might mean patients react differently to the same medication and you need to find a better suited treatment.

Show Me More Articles

© 2010, Senior Citizens Directory