As the Trust's Director of Clinical Pharmacy, Alan Lukazewski sees too many adverse drug effects (ADEs) from polypharmacy ... the use of multiple drugs to treat multiple conditions. 30% of those over 65 fall in this category and 40% of them take from 5-9 different medications. The chance for unanticipated interaction is great. Older people are seven times more likely to experience ADEs. And the situation is s getting worse. Drugs can lead to a cascade of symptoms which suggest the need for more drugs leading to more symptoms. Some of the symptoms of adverse drug interactions can mimic the normal course of aging, and this makes them dangerous. Always assume a symptom is caused by a drug until proven otherwise. Looking carefully to intelligently minimize the drugs we take ... in consultation with our doctor ... can get us all on a course of "successful aging." |  |
