Drug combo puts seniors in grave danger

Drug combo puts seniors in grave danger

America is one of the most over-medicated societies on the planet. So is it any wonder that adverse drug interactions in people over 65 result in more than 175,000 emergency room visits every year?

Study author Dima M. Qato from the University of Chicago says that nearly 30 percent of seniors are taking at least five prescription medications. Add to this the pervasiveness of over-the-counter drugs, and you’ll see that drug interactions are ticking time bombs.

According to Qato, pharmacists are often the last line of defense for many of these elderly, and he encourages them to ask older patients about ALL the medications they use. “This is especially important in patients who see multiple providers and patients that fill at multiple pharmacies,” Qato said.

According to Qato’s research, one of the most common and potentially deadly drug combos discovered in this new study was blood thinners with aspirin. And I bet I know why: many people these days hardly even consider aspirin a “drug.” It’s no stretch to think that many would take their prescription blood thinner like warfarin in the morning, and then pop a couple of aspirin in the afternoon without giving it a second thought. But by doubling up on two blood thinning-drugs, the risk of bleeding goes through the roof.

And it’s not just the combination of prescription drugs with over-the-counter drugs – it’s dietary supplements, too. Even Gingko with aspirin can jack up the potential for bleeding.

There’s much talk of putting a better system in place to alleviate this problem. But at the end of the day, it’s on you – the patient – to act as your own advocate and ask the right questions.