Polypharmacy in the elderly and hidden risks that increase the likelihood of falls and fractures
Amman3 min read
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A patient may take a medication for heart disease, another for a different health problem, in addition to a treatment they have been using for years. Despite the different goals of these medications, some may share similar side effects, such as dizziness, drowsiness, and balance disorders.
Researcher Emaiyana Widagdo explains that the combination of these effects may increase the likelihood of falling, especially in the elderly. It may be difficult to notice this risk when different doctors prescribe multiple treatments without evaluating their combined effects.
Therefore, it is not enough to look at each medication individually; rather, the entire treatment regimen should be reviewed to see if its side effects overlap or accumulate.
Researchers analyzed the medication dispensing records of 323,599 people aged 65 and over, during the period from April to June 2022, based on a sample from the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The study focused on cases where two or more medications were dispensed that share a known side effect according to pharmaceutical product information.
The results showed that 75.5 percent of the sample were exposed to this situation at least once, and the risks associated with falls, fractures, constipation, and kidney injuries were among the most common.
However, this percentage does not mean that 75.5 percent of the participants actually suffered from side effects; the study monitored the overlap of potential risks, not the actual occurrence of symptoms.
Furthermore, medication dispensing records do not prove that patients took them all, nor do they alone determine the appropriateness of each combination for the patient's condition. Combining several medications may be necessary and medically appropriate.
The most important step begins with preparing an updated list of all medications the patient uses, whether prescription or over-the-counter, including vitamins and nutritional supplements.
The US Food and Drug Administration recommends recording the name of each medication, the dosage, the time of use, the name of the prescribing physician, and the reason for its use.
Keeping this list on a phone or in a wallet, and sharing it with a doctor and pharmacist, helps create a clear picture of the treatment and evaluate its benefits and risks, as well as detect similar side effects or potential interactions.
The appearance of dizziness, drowsiness, or balance disorders warrants discussing the matter with a doctor or pharmacist, especially if it began after adding a new medication or adjusting a dosage. It should not be assumed that these symptoms are a normal part of aging.
However, reviewing medications does not necessarily mean stopping them or reducing their number in all cases. Combining them may be necessary, while other cases may require adjusting the dosage, replacing one of the treatments, or gradually reducing it under the supervision of a specialist.
