Written and medically reviewed by Dorcas Morak, Pharm.D
Every September, Healthy Aging Month shines a spotlight on the habits that help older adults stay healthy and independent. While eating well, staying active, and keeping up with preventive care are all important, medication management is just as essential. Many adults over 65 take several medications to manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, or heart disease. As the number of medications increases, so does the risk of side effects, drug interactions, and missed or incorrect doses. Fortunately, a little organization and regular medication reviews can help you safely manage multiple prescriptions while supporting healthy aging.
Healthy Aging Month and Medication Safety
Healthy Aging Month encourages older adults to take a proactive approach to their health. Along with scheduling annual checkups and recommended screenings, it's an excellent time to review every medication you take and ask whether each one is still necessary.
Even medications you've taken for years may need dose adjustments or changes as your health, kidney function, and treatment goals evolve.
What Is Polypharmacy?
Polypharmacy generally refers to taking five or more prescription and/or over-the-counter medications on a regular basis. It's common among older adults, with national surveys showing that more than 40% of adults aged 65 and older take five or more medications. Many people manage conditions such as:
- High blood pressure with medications like lisinopril (Zestril), amlodipine (Norvasc), or losartan (Cozaar)
- Type 2 diabetes with metformin (Riomet), empagliflozin (Jardiance), or insulin products such as insulin glargine (Lantus)
- High cholesterol with atorvastatin (Lipitor) or rosuvastatin (Crestor)
While each medication may be appropriate on its own, taking several together increases the chance of interactions and side effects.
Why Older Adults Have a Higher Risk of Medication Side Effects
As we age, the body often processes medications differently. Changes in kidney and liver function can cause certain medications to stay in the body longer, increasing the risk of side effects.
Common medication-related side effects in older adults include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Low blood pressure
- Falls
- Memory problems
A medication that was well tolerated years ago may require a lower dose or closer monitoring over time.
Medications Older Adults Should Use with Caution
The American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® identifies medications that may carry a higher risk of side effects in older adults. These medications are not necessarily inappropriate for everyone, but they should be used carefully and only when the benefits outweigh the risks.
Examples include:
- Diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan), which may increase confusion, drowsiness, and fall risk
- Sedating antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which can contribute to confusion and memory problems
- Some sleep medications, including zolpidem (Ambien), which may also increase the risk of falls
Your healthcare provider can help determine whether these medications remain appropriate for your situation.
Common Drug Interactions Older Adults Should Know About
The more medications a person takes, the greater the chance that two or more may interact.
For example: ?Blood thinners such as warfarin or apixaban (Eliquis) combined with NSAID pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) can significantly increase the risk of bleeding.
- Some cholesterol medications may interact with certain antibiotics or antifungal medications.
- Multiple medications that cause drowsiness may increase the risk of falls or accidents.
Whenever you're prescribed a new medication—or purchase an over-the-counter medicine—ask your pharmacist to check for potential interactions.
Don't Forget Vitamins, Supplements, and Over-the-Counter Medications
Prescription medications aren't the only products that can interact.
Common over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements—including aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), antacids such as calcium carbonate (Tums), and supplements like St. John's wort—can change how prescription medications work or increase the risk of side effects.
Be sure to include every product you take during medication reviews, even if you only use it occasionally.
What Is Deprescribing?
Deprescribing is the supervised process of reducing or stopping medications that may no longer provide meaningful benefit or may pose unnecessary risks.
For example, a physician may recommend gradually tapering long-term medications such as diazepam (Valium) or zolpidem (Ambien) if they're no longer needed or if safer alternatives are available.
Never stop taking a prescription medication without first speaking with your healthcare provider.
How Pharmacists Help Prevent Medication Problems
Pharmacists are medication experts who can identify duplicate therapies, dosing problems, and potentially dangerous drug interactions.
Many pharmacies offer free "brown bag" medication reviews, where you bring all of your prescription medications, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements in for a comprehensive review.
This service can help identify medications that may no longer be needed or combinations that deserve a conversation with your healthcare provider.
Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults
Simple habits can make medication management much easier:
- Use a weekly pill organizer.
- Keep an up-to-date list of all prescription medications, over-the-counter products, vitamins, supplements, allergies, and dosages.
- Set reminders on your phone or smartwatch.
- Use one pharmacy whenever possible so your pharmacist can monitor for interactions.
- Store medications in their original containers unless your healthcare provider recommends otherwise.
- Check expiration dates and safely dispose of medications you no longer need.
When to Schedule a Medication Review
Consider scheduling a medication review if you:
- Were recently hospitalized
- Started seeing a new specialist
- Received a new diagnosis
- Began taking a new medication
- Take five or more medications regularly
- Experience dizziness, confusion, falls, or other unexplained side effects
Even if nothing has changed, an annual medication review is a smart part of healthy aging.
Save Money on Multiple Prescriptions with the RxLess® Assurance Plan
Managing several long-term medications can put a strain on your budget, especially if you're living on a fixed income.
The RxLess® Assurance Plan helps you compare real-time prescription prices at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide and provides free digital coupons that may help lower the cost of many commonly prescribed medications, including drugs for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and many other chronic conditions.
Simply download the free RxLess® app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to automatically become a member of the RxLess® Assurance Plan. You can compare prices before you visit the pharmacy and choose the location offering the best available price for your prescription.
