Care ABC: M for medication

With increasing age, the number of medications to be taken daily often also increases, which makes taking medication in old age increasingly complicated. It is important to take your medication correctly in order to stay healthy and avoid risks. But what happens if you lose track of your medication or if it interferes with each other? We answer these and other questions in the following blog article.

 

 

Our society is getting older and older, and more and more people are dependent on medication - be it for pain, blood pressure or other health problems. But the more tablets, drops or capsules are prescribed, the more difficult it becomes to keep track.

 

When several medications are taken at the same time, problems such as side effects or interactions can quickly arise. It's like having to put together a complicated puzzle:

 

Every part must fit exactly so that health does not suffer. A small mistake - such as forgetting a dose or the wrong timing - can upset the balance in the body.

 

In this article, we look at the most common problems with taking medication in old age. We explain how interactions can occur and why it's so important to regularly discuss your medication with your doctor to stay safe and healthy.

 

What is medication?

 

By medication we mean the prescription and correct use of medicines, such as tablets, ointments or injections. The dosage, duration of use and exact timing must always be agreed with the doctor or pharmacist.

 

A general prescription is not enough, because each treatment must be tailored precisely to the patient's needs - much like a tailor-made suit that has to fit perfectly in order to fulfill its purpose.

 

Every person reacts differently to medication, depending on factors such as age, weight, existing illnesses or diet. The same medication may have the desired effect in one patient but cause side effects in another. 

 

Frequent problems and interactions when taking medication in old age.

 

A Report of the "Yellow List" according to the report, more than 42 percent of people over the age of 65 already take five or more medications. This does not include over-the-counter medicines. Around one in four to one in five of them take medication that may be inappropriate for them. Medication harbors a number of risks and sources of problems, especially in old age:

 

 

Interactions:

• A major problem is unwanted interactions between different medications. If two or more drugs are taken at the same time, they can influence each other. For example, the effect of a medication can be strengthened or weakened, which can lead to health problems. Some interactions can even be dangerous, especially when blood thinners or heart medication are involved.

 

Dosage:

• Dosage also plays a decisive role. Metabolism changes with age, which means that the body breaks down medication differently. A dose that worked well in younger years may be too strong or too weak in old age. It is therefore important to find the right amount of medication and adapt it to the individual's state of health.

 

Forgetfulness:

• Another problem is forgetfulness. Older people can more easily forget whether they have already taken their tablets, or they take the wrong amount at the wrong time. This is particularly problematic if there are no regular checks by relatives or carers. A forgotten or double dose of medication can quickly have a negative impact on health.

 

A major problem with drug therapy for older patients is the interaction between certain medications. In particular, those on the Priscus list can cause unexpectedly severe side effects, which requires close monitoring by the doctor.

 

To minimize these risks, it is important that older people have their drug therapy regularly reviewed by a doctor. In addition, good organization is crucial to ensure that the medication is taken properly and errors are avoided.

 

Practical tips for taking medication safely

Taking multiple medications can be a real challenge as you get older. To make sure everything goes right and the medication has the desired effect, there are some useful tips and tools that can help avoid the most common problems:

 

Regular doctor visits and medication checks

 

One of the most important measures to avoid problems is to have your doctor regularly review your medication intake as you get older. These reviews can significantly reduce the risk of incorrect use and interactions.

 

This is not just about monitoring the current medication, but also about whether some preparations can possibly be discontinued or replaced by more tolerable alternatives.

 

Use of a medication plan

 

A medication schedule is a simple but effective way to keep track of your medication. The plan lists all medications to be taken, including precise instructions on when and how to take them.

 

A plan of this kind can be drawn up by doctors or pharmacists and updated regularly. pharmacists and updated regularly. However, nurses and caregiving relatives can take on this task (provided they are informed).

 

Practical aids for taking medication in old age: pillboxes and reminder apps

 

Technical aids such as pill boxes with compartments for each day and each time you take your medication, as well as apps that remind you to take your medication, are a great support for those affected.

 

The risk of taking the wrong medication can be reduced by pre-sorting it. However, apps such as "MyTherapy" or "Medisafe" remind users to take their medication at the right time and even offer the option of including family members or care services who are notified in an emergency.

 

Caution with over-the-counter medications

Not only prescription drugs, but also over-the-counter drugs can cause interactions. These medications are often taken without consulting a doctor, which increases the risk.

 

It is therefore advisable to discuss any medication taken in old age, including over-the-counter preparations, with your doctor or pharmacist. doctor or a pharmacist. This is because we are often not even aware of the possible interactions.

 

Medication Abuse in the Elderly

 

Medication misuse in old age can pose a serious risk to health and can often go unnoticed. Medication is often taken incorrectly by mistake - for example, by overdosing, forgetting a dose or taking it at the wrong time. These errors can lead to undesirable side effects or reduced effectiveness of the medication and impair health.

 

However, there are also cases in which the misuse of medication is intentional. Some older people try to enhance the effect of their medication by taking more than prescribed.

 

Others deliberately do not take the medication or alter the dosage because they do not understand or accept the treatment. Such deliberate misuse can pose considerable risks to health and must be urgently avoided.

 

Targeted measures are required to prevent these risks. This includes regular medication reviews by the doctor to ensure that all medication is necessary and correctly dosed.

 

Safe storage of medication, clear adherence to dosage instructions and support from relatives can also help to prevent both accidental and deliberate misuse.

 

Medication and nutrition

 

The interactions between medication and diet are an often underestimated but crucial aspect of medication in old age. What and how we eat can influence the effect of medication, sometimes significantly. We have some important examples for you that show how diet and medication can interact:

 

Grapefruit juice:

• The bitter substance furanocoumarin gives grapefruit its typical taste, but also has another effect: it can block the breakdown of many medications in the liver. This can cause the active ingredient of the medication to build up in the blood, which can lead to undesirable side effects, particularly with antihypertensives, blood thinners or cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins).

 

Vitamin K:

• For people who take blood thinners such as warfarin, it is important to pay attention to their vitamin K intake. Foods such as spinach, cabbage and other green leafy vegetables, as well as eggs and offal, contain high amounts of this vitamin, which can influence the effect of blood thinners.

 

Dairy products: 

• Some medications, especially antibiotics, can be impaired in their effect when taken together with dairy products. The calcium compounds in milk can reduce the absorption of the medication and thus impair its effectiveness.

 

Coffee and tea:

 

• Coffee as well as black and green tea contain tannins that can impair the absorption of active ingredients in the intestine. For example, iron supplements cannot be properly absorbed by the body as the tannins bind the iron in the gastrointestinal tract.                  

   

   

• It can also happen that the effect of the medication is reduced by these tannins when taking antidepressants or neuroleptics.

 

Superfoods:

• "Superfoods" such as goji berries, large amounts of ginger and garlic can increase the effect of blood thinners, which can increase the risk of bleeding. If such foods are consumed in large quantities, together with blood thinners such as aspirin or warfarin, this can lead to undesirable side effects.

 

Oily food:        

• The liver acts as a filter that removes unwanted substances from the blood, including the medications we take. This process, known as the first-pass effect, is taken into account when dosing a drug so that the right amount of the active ingredient arrives at its destination after passing through the liver.

   

   

• However, if the liver is busy processing high-fat foods, drugs such as beta-blockers or antihypertensives may bypass this first filter stage and have a stronger effect than intended.

 

Fiber:        

• Foods such as muesli, wholemeal bread or pulses are rich in fibre, which is very beneficial to health because it binds unwanted substances in the intestine. However, this fiber can also bind active ingredients in medications and impair their effect. For example, painkillers such as acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol, penicillin, trimethoprim, levothyroxine and antidepressants such as doxipin are affected.

   

• Despite their health benefits, a sudden change in fiber intake - be it an increase or decrease - can lead to problems such as over- or under-dosing on medication.

 

Foods containing tyramine:         

• Certain foods such as matured cheese, pickled herrings, salami, dried fruit, yoghurt and also drinks such as beer and red wine contain high amounts of the substance tyramine. Tyramine is also found in our nervous system and is normally broken down by an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO).

   

• However, when MAO inhibitors are taken to treat depression, this degradation process is slowed down. This can cause tyramine to accumulate in the body and lead to a sharp rise in blood pressure.

 

Alcohol: 

• Alcohol can increase the effect of medication. With high-dose therapy with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which are used to relieve pain, alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding. With other medications, alcohol can increase the sedative effect, which can lead to motor impairments, a higher risk of falls and accidents or even breathing problems.

 

It is important to take these interactions into account and, if necessary, adjust the diet to ensure the optimal effect of the medication. Patients should consult their doctor or pharmacist

.

 

inform the pharmacist about her dietary habits in order to recognize possible interactions at an early stage and make adjustments if necessary. This can ensure that the medication works safely and effectively.

 

 

The right medication is a crucial factor for the health and well-being of patients. Careful management and monitoring of medication intake can minimize health risks and is therefore of great importance.

 

At noracares, you will find nurses who have extensive knowledge of medication and ensure that all medication is administered correctly and reliably. 

 

Register today and find professionals with the experience and care to ensure that your loved one's medication is optimally managed.