Chances are if you are elderly, you are taking multiple medicines that are prescribed by your doctor. The problem is that taking multiple medicines together could have a negative reaction in your body, and your doctor may not know you are in danger.
According to Judy Mansell, Wilson County Family Caregiver Support Program coordinator, it can be pretty easy for anyone to take medicines that react negatively together.
So Mansell and several other elder care advocates are having a seminar to help caregivers and older people learn about managing medications at the Wilson County Agricultural Center. The seminar will be Wednesday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
"Many times our older people are seeing more than one doctor, and the doctors may not be aware of how many other medicines that patient is on," said Mansell. "If the patients are forgetting to tell the doctor about even one medicine, that could cause the patient problems."
Mansell said that caregivers have reported elderly people they care for have had a range of problems from small unpleasant side effects like hair loss and itching, to major problems that mimic Alzheimer's disease -- all from taking their medicines the wrong way.
"You'd be surprised how many elderly people wind up in emergency each year because they have not managed their medicines correctly," said Vince Stevens, pharmacist at the North Carolina Office of Rural Health. "People have to communicate with their doctor and pharmacist and let them know all of the drugs they are taking."
That includes telling doctors and pharmacists about all of the over-the-counter drugs, as well as herbal supplements that are taken. Stevens said that most people don't think of the over-the-counter and herbal supplements as drugs, but they can interact with prescription drugs and cause some negative interactions.
Over-the-counter drugs sometimes have the same active ingredients as prescription drugs, said Stevens. That means if a person does not read what each drug contains before they take it, they could take too much of particular drug and not realize it.
According to the CDC, herbal supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and so the quality and strength of supplements vary greatly among brands and also can interact with prescribed and over-the-counter drugs.
One suggestion Stevens makes to anyone taking multiple drugs is to make a list of all of the drugs and include over-the-counter and herbal supplements too.
"I tell people, If you are taking it, write it down, every drug and vitamin" said Stevens. "Make copies of the list for all of the doctors. And when you add a doctor, give them a copy the very first time you go for a doctor's visit. The pharmacist and a loved one should also have a copy of the list."
Stevens also suggests making an appointment to sit down with your pharmacist and asking him or her to look over the medicines and see if everything is in order medically.
"An appointment is necessary because it takes at least a half an hour to do an assessment," said Stevens. "I also suggest when making a doctor's appointment to ask for some extra time with the doctor. Write down questions to ask before seeing a doctor, and then ask them at the end of the appointment."
Here are questions AARP suggest to ask:
* What is the name of this medication? What is it supposed to do? What are the side effects?
* When do I start and stop taking this medication?
* Will this medication work safely with the other medications I am taking?
* Can non-drug actions help my symptoms in addition to, or instead of, this drug therapy?
* Are there other medications that can be used to treat my condition? If so, how do these medications compare in safety, effectiveness and price?
* Why is this the right medicine for my condition, age, and gender?
* When will I stop taking it or will I take it forever? What should I do if I feel better?
* Should I avoid certain foods, alcohol, dietary supplements or driving while taking this medication?
janet@wilsontimes.com | 265-7847