Perspective               

Prescription Drugs for the Older Population Not Always a Safe Bet

If you are an older or disabled American, you probably know through experience and observation that prescription drugs are the most common form of treatment in health care today. Although prescription drugs have brought about remarkable progress in the treatment of chronic diseases, reduction of disability, and extension of lifespan, they can also cause older adults many medical problems if not used in an appropriate, safe, and effective way.

It is well-known that diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and osteoporosis are widespread in the older population and require the use of prescription drugs for treatment. However, if you are prescribed the wrong drug or an unnecessary drug, or if you take the wrong medical dosage, or if you don't take the drug correctly, you may experience medication-related side effects like confusion, depression, insomnia, urinary retention, loss of appetite, and falls. In the long run, these problems can lead to increased disability, loss of independence, decreased quality of life, and nursing home placement. It is estimated that adverse medication effects in the older population have been associated with 32,000 hip fractures, 163,000 cases of mental impairment, and 61,000 cases of drug-induced Parkinson's disease.

If you have any of these symptoms and are taking prescription drugs, talk to your doctor to make sure that your drug routine is effective, safe, and appropriate. If you only have Original Medicare, which does not cover prescription drugs, and need help paying for them, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program to find out about any programs in your state that help pay for prescription drugs. The number is in Medicare & You.

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