{"id":68494,"date":"2017-01-04T15:42:18","date_gmt":"2017-01-04T15:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/toronto\/medication-elderly-causes-preventative-tips-toronto-seniors\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T19:08:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:08:45","slug":"medication-elderly-causes-preventative-tips-toronto-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/toronto\/medication-elderly-causes-preventative-tips-toronto-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Over Medication Of The Elderly: Causes and Preventative Tips For Toronto Seniors"},"content":{"rendered":"

30 \u2013 40% of people age 65 and over take 5 or more medications on a regular basis. Of that group, about 10 percent of them take 10 or more drugs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As we age our bodies need a little more help. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, just to name a few, are more and more common.\u00a0 For some, taking medications is essential to maintaining health, and can\u2019t be avoided.<\/p>\n

There is a downside to these life improving, and even life saving medications.\u00a0 Evidence suggests – and experts agree – that millions of people are taking more medications than needed. The more drugs that are taken at the same time, the greater the risk of adverse interactions and potentially devastating side effects, due to the cumulative impact and the mixing of drugs.<\/p>\n

Over-medication and taking multiple medications (technically called polypharmacy), are common and increasing to epidemic proportions among the senior population. Seniors are prone to more chronic conditions that require medication, but an aging body tolerates drugs differently and metabolizes drugs more slowly, making drug interaction a greater concern.<\/p>\n

Why There Is A Risk Of Over-Medicating Seniors<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The main reason polypharmacy has increased over the past decade is that there are more drugs available for chronic illnesses \u2212 from high blood pressure and cholesterol to osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Improved diagnoses also enhance medication use. Marketing of drugs to consumers plays a role, as patients inquire about and demand the medicines they see advertised on TV and in magazines.<\/p>\n

There also is a lack of coordination among insurers, doctors, and pharmacies. Patients may see multiple specialists who don\u2019t coordinate with each other to discuss what drugs are being prescribed. It is then left to the patient to track it all, and some seniors are simply not prepared for that. Recent statistics show that on average, 1 out of every 4 patients have prescriptions from at least 4 different doctors.<\/p>\n

In addition, it is often assumed that people need to take chronic disease medications for long periods, or the rest of their lives. Many who have marginally high cholesterol, high blood pressure and blood sugar can cut back on their medications if lifestyle changes bring their conditions under control \u2212 and there is too little emphasis on exploring those options. There\u2019s also a fair amount of research suggesting that a sizable portion of people are taking antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, and pain relievers when it is not necessary.<\/p>\n

Dangers Of Overmedicating The Elderly<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Potential Dangers: <\/strong>While drugs do save lives, few prescription medications are completely free of risks or side effects. A 2012 report by Bruyere, a Canadian health services organization, listed several factors that put seniors at increased risk from polypharmacy:<\/p>\n