Donald, 74, leads an active life. He goes to the theater, does volunteer work, and plays golf. But when he sits down to breakfast he faces a plate full of pills. His wife, Judy, who at age 66 walks a mile twice a day, also stares down a pillbox first thing in the morning. Both dutifully swallow their medications once, twice, sometimes up to three times a day. But they admit there are times when they forget.
"It's very time consuming taking all these pills," says Donald. "I wish I had a pill in my pillbox that reminded me to take my pills."
They are not alone. Millions of older adults take several medications. Add vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements to the mix and you've got a schedule of pill swallowing that stretches throughout the day. For people with chronic medical conditions, keeping track of medications can feel like a full-time job.
A recent study examined how doctors respond to seeing a chart of their patients' weekly medication schedules. The chart listed the days of the week and then the time of day that each pill was taken. The doctors' responses were often striking. They would look at the charts and say "Holy Mackerel! This really is complicated!"
After reviewing the charts, many of the doctors made changes that simplified their patients' medication schedules. People should tell their doctors when their regimens become too complicated.
Most doctors know that taking many drugs multiple times a day creates problems. The more medicines you take, the harder it is to remember them, and the more likely it is that harmful medication interactions will occur. Still, many older people end up taking a handful of drugs every day. Sometimes it's necessary; a lot of older adults with multiple medical problems need multiple medications. However, patients can work with their doctors to try to simplify their regiments.
Problems occur when there are several doctors involved who don’t know what the others are prescribing, or when the patient and primary physician don’t spend enough time reviewing the patient's medicines.
It often helps if you bring in your pills, or at least a list of your medications each time you go to the doctor. It's amazing how often your doctor's list will differ from yours.
Your doctor should work with you to simplify your medication schedule. Ask if he or she can do the following:
There are things you can do to reduce the complexity of your medication schedule. The experts offer the following tips:
RESOURCES:
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
http://www.fda.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Public Health
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/
The College of Canadian Family Physicians
http://www.cfpc.ca/
Last reviewed May 2009 by Igor Puzanov, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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