As breakthroughs in science continue to increase, we know that the advancements in medicine will also improve. However, in our modern society, we have come to rely more and more on medicine and pharmaceuticals to provide solutions to our illnesses, diseases and other ailments. It is imperative that we understand that you cannot improve your overall health through medicine alone since medicine is a secondary modality that should be used in conjunction with a holistic approach to overall health and fitness.
Medication management in older adults
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Managing medications is a major part of providing care to older adults. Poly-pharmacy is common in the elderly and is fraught with risks. A careful and systematic approach is needed for managing drug therapy in these patients, recognizing the patient’s specific goals.
Medications started for appropriate indications in middle age may need to be monitored more closely as the patient ages. Some drugs may become unnecessary or even dangerous as the patient ages, functional status and renal function decline, and goals of care change.
Older adults tend to have multiple illnesses and therefore take more drugs, and poly-pharmacy increases the risk of poor outcomes. The number of medications a person uses is a risk factor for adverse drug reactions, non-adherence, financial burden, drug-drug interactions, and worse outcomes.
https://www.mdedge.com/ccjm/article/157145/geriatrics/medication-management-older-adults
