Avoiding Adverse Drug Interactions Can Prevent Hospitalizations in Older Adults
ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. (PRWEB) February 09, 2018 -- Twice as many patients aged 65 years and older are hospitalized because of problems related to an adverse drug reaction than younger patients, according to the National Institutes of Health. Older adults can prevent adverse drug interactions by reducing the number of medications they take, communicating with their physician or pharmacist and making other lifestyle changes, advises Don Brindisi, pharmacy manager at Masonic Village.
While anyone can experience a drug interaction, seniors are often more at risk.
“Generally, older patients respond differently to medications because of the physiological alterations made as one ages,” Don Brindisi, pharmacy manager of the pharmacy at Masonic Villages, said.
The liver and kidneys help metabolize drugs and remove them from the body. However, the aging process cause internal changes that alter the effectiveness of this process.
“The elderly have less cytochrome P-450 (CYP450), an enzyme involved in drug metabolism, which leads to the change in drug metabolism being less pronounced. Since seniors are often taking larger quantities of drugs, they have an increased risk of many CYP450 interactions, whether it’s inhibiting or enhancing the enzyme’s effects,” Brindisi said.
Older adults can reduce their risk of CYP450 interactions by cutting back the amount of drugs they take.
“Taking multiple medications concurrently may become problematic to a patient’s health; the risk of drug interactions and drug-related problems increases with the use of multiple medications,” Brindisi said.
Some lifestyle changes (exercise, therapy, diet, etc.) can eliminate or reduce the need for specific medications. Also, older adults can look for herbals and dietary supplements to remedy minor health problems (i.e., ginger for nausea instead of antacids). However, they should tell their primary care physician and pharmacist, since these can cause adverse drug interactions.
“Common herbals that interact with certain drugs include green tea, kava, grapefruit juice, Echinacea and certain vitamins,” Brindisi said. “Be mindful when mixing herbals with prescribed drugs, and properly communicate with a health care provider before adding a new dietary supplement into your daily regimen.”
Above all, consistency and communication with medical professionals can help prevent drug interactions.
“Patients should pick one healthcare provider rather than going to a different one each time. Being prescribed medications from multiple healthcare providers – especially those working independently of each other – is likely to lead to drug interactions,” Brindisi said.
To establish a medication profile, he recommends the “brown bag assessment,” where a patient brings in all the medicines they are currently taking in a bag for the doctor to review. This should happen at a patient’s first visit to a provider, and at least three to 12 months after the first time conducted.
“Although proper counseling and prescribing lays more on the doctor, it is important for the patient to follow through with keeping up with regular check-ups, follow-up appointments and proper communication with their provider to allow for the best possible treatment and outcome,” Brindisi said. “Patients who understand what they are taking and are knowledgeable of their health and treatment are more likely to modify their behavior to avoid any preventable problems that may occur with the way they are taking their medicine.”
The Masonic Village at Elizabethtown is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, children’s home and community service organization. The campus offers 665 retirement living apartments and 390 cottages, 135 personal care residences and 453 nursing, subacute and dementia care accommodations. The Masonic Villages also include communities in Dallas, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley and Warminster.
Debra L. Davis, Masonic Village of Pennsylvania, http://www.masonicvillages.org, +1 7173671121 Ext: 33529, [email protected]
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