Medication for the elderly

The elderly are a population that uses more medication than other age groups due to the fact that these patients often have chronic diseases that require treatment by physicians.

Many people have found that 90% of those over the age of 65 use at least one type of medication per week, and the number of medications used is related to increasing age. The resulting issues from medication use include adverse effects, drug interactions, and increased treatment costs. The use of medication in the elderly can easily lead to side effects due to changes in pharmacokinetics with age, such as decreased absorption and elimination of drugs from the body. In addition, the elderly who have visual and memory problems have a greater risk of taking medication incorrectly.

Certain medication groups carry a high risk for the elderly, including:

• Sedative and hypnotic drugs
• Antidepressants
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Antidiabetic medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Anticoagulants
• Antiemetic drugs
• Antihistamines

Group of medications commonly used in the elderly:

1. Medications for chronic diseases such as blood pressure-lowering drugs, blood sugar level controlling drugs, and heart disease medications.
2. Sleep and anxiety-relieving medications.
3. Pain relievers and muscle relaxants.
4. Vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies.

Factors that promote side effects from medication use in the elderly:

• Taking multiple medications at the same time can cause drug interactions or drug contraindications. For example, a patient with both high blood pressure and diabetes who takes a diuretic blood pressure medication may experience elevated blood sugar levels, making it difficult to treat diabetes. Additionally, in cases where elderly patients regularly take blood thinners and enjoy consuming Ginkgo biloba supplements, there is an increased risk of easy bleeding.
• Changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics affect drug efficacy and elimination from the body.
• Patient behavior, such as:
  • Self-medicating, is common in the elderly population in Thailand. It is easy for them to purchase medication from drugstores, and many seniors buy sets of medicine or counterfeit drugs, thinking they are safe because they are made from herbs. However, many of these drugs may contain androgen steroid mixtures that can cause long-term harm, such as osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, and high blood pressure.
• Lack of regular follow-up with physicians: Many elderly individuals do not like to see a doctor regularly due to various limitations, such as fear of bothering those close to them, fear of wasting time and money, and difficulty with transportation. As a result, it is common for relatives to request the same medications from the physician without the patient being present for follow-up treatment.
• Non-compliance with medication: Many patients take medication incorrectly for various reasons, such as:
  • Difficulty in understanding how to use medication properly, such as taking medication too many times a day
  • Stopping medication without informing their physician due to unwanted side effects
  • Poor eyesight, forgetfulness, or misreading unclear labels on the medication
  • Patients may also have misconceptions about medication, such as believing that taking more medication will speed up recovery, or taking too much medication can harm their liver and kidneys
• Accumulation of medication: Elderly patients with chronic illnesses often receive multiple medications, and when they don't finish their medication, they keep it for future use. When they become ill again, they choose to take the same medication that worked before. However, this can be dangerous if the medication has expired.
• The most commonly used medications by the elderly are sleeping pills and pain relievers, which do not treat the underlying cause of the disease but may temporarily alleviate symptoms. Therefore, medication use should be combined with treatment for the underlying causes of insomnia and pain, which should be under the care of a physician.

Thank you to Health Today Magazine for the information.