Preventing Canadian Seniors from the Dangers of Over-Medication

Senior Medication Management  |  January 10, 2024

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About the Dangers of Over-Medication

Over-Medication | For certain individuals, medications are necessary for maintaining their health and cannot be overlooked. However, studies indicate – and specialists concur – that numerous individuals are consuming excessive amounts of medication. The more medications taken simultaneously, the higher the likelihood of harmful interactions and potentially severe side effects due to the combined impact and combination of drugs.

#DYK – 30 – 40% of people age 65 and over take 5 or more medications regularly. Of that group, about 10 percent of them take 10 or more drugs.

The senior population is facing a growing issue of overmedication and polypharmacy, where individuals are taking multiple medications. This trend is becoming increasingly common and has reached epidemic levels. Chronic conditions, which often require medication, are more prevalent among seniors. However, aging bodies process drugs at a slower rate and may react differently to them, raising concerns about potential drug interactions.

Contributing Factors to Senior Over-Medication

The rise in polypharmacy can be attributed to several factors. One of the main reasons is the growing availability of medications for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis. Additionally, improved diagnoses have also led to an increase in medication use. Marketing strategies targeting consumers may also contribute as patients are influenced by advertising in various forms such as television and magazines.

Inadequate coordination among insurers, doctors, and pharmacies is a common issue. Oftentimes, patients visit multiple specialists who fail to communicate with one another about the medications being prescribed. As a result, patients are burdened with keeping track of it all themselves, which can be overwhelming for some senior citizens. Recent statistics reveal that approximately 1 in every 4 patients receive prescriptions from at least 4 different doctors.

Furthermore, there is a common belief that individuals must maintain a consistent use of chronic disease medications for extended periods or even indefinitely. However, those with slightly elevated cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels may be able to reduce their medication intake if they make necessary lifestyle adjustments to manage their conditions. Unfortunately, there is not enough focus on exploring alternative options in these cases. Research also indicates that a significant number of individuals are prescribed antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, and pain relievers unnecessarily.

Potential Dangers of Senior Over-Medication

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:

• Physiologic changes (increased sensitivity to benzodiazepines, analgesics, or antihypertensives)
• Reduced kidney and liver function (making it harder to excrete drugs)
• Reduced body fat (this changes the distribution of drugs)
• Existing conditions (dementia, delirium, poor kidney function, poor balance, and increased likelihood of falls)

In addition to impacting cognition, polypharmacy can also affect the mental capacity of older individuals. It is not uncommon for overmedicated seniors to be misdiagnosed with conditions such as depression, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Recognize the Warning Signs of Senior Over-Medication

Being aware of certain warning signs can assist in identifying whether your loved one is possibly taking too much medication. These indicators may include: feeling excessively tired; experiencing physical issues such as dry mouth or ulcers; feeling confused; disconnecting from loved ones; seeing or hearing things that are not real; feeling lightheaded or having accidents; sustaining fractures; and having seizures. If your loved one displays these signs or any unexpected changes in behavior, it is important to promptly inform a doctor.

How to Cut Down on Senior Prescriptions:

• To ensure your loved one’s well-being, it is important to have their medications, including vitamins, herbs, and over-the-counter medicines, regularly assessed by their primary care doctor. If more than 4 medications have not been reviewed within the past year, it is best to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Be sure to bring along all pill bottles for the doctor’s reference and accuracy.
• When discussing medication with the doctor, it’s important to be proactive. Make sure to ask if your loved one still needs to take each drug and the reason behind it. Additionally, seniors can inquire about the possibility of lowering dosages.
• Inquire with the doctor about potential lifestyle adjustments, like dietary modifications or increased physical activity, that may allow your elderly loved one to decrease their reliance on medications. Additionally, explore the possibility of alternative remedies such as acupuncture, yoga, or meditation.
• Don’t just rely on the doctor to know details about drug-drug interactions. Do online research. Reliable websites such as The DIR (Drug Information Resources) https://www.dal.ca/diff/druginfo.html and medscape.com list potential interactions and provide explanations.
• If you experience any new side effects, particularly stomach upset or queasiness, dizziness, sedation, or loss of balance, after taking a new medicine in addition to 2 or more others, it is important to inform your doctor immediately.
• As medications accumulate in the body, their strength may increase and they may also interact with each other to cause new side effects. Similarly, over time some drugs may lose their efficacy, leading to a reemergence of symptoms that were previously managed.
• It’s important to stick with a single pharmacy and pharmacist. Ensure that they are aware of all medications being used, including any herbal supplements from other prescriptions. Pharmacists typically have more expertise in identifying potential drug interactions compared to doctors.

Comfort Keepers® is the Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC

When it comes to arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver, Comfort Keepers is the preferred choice for many families. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, Respite Care, and much more! 

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Comfort Keepers® Brings You The Best Home Care Assistance Right Where You Live.

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide home care throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond please call (604) 689-8609. 

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References:

• ParentGiving. “Overmedication in the Elderly.” Web. 2016.
• MedShadow. “Are Seniors Being Overmedicated?” by Steven Findlay. Web. 2015. Updated 2016.
• AARP. “The Pharmacist Who Says No to Drugs.” by Bill Hogan. Web. 2011.
• CareConversations. “Overmedication: Warning Signs to Watch For.” Web. 2016.

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