Elderly and retirees must take care of: these very general pills can be life -threatening
Not all medicines are suitable for the country’s elderly citizens.
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Several experts are now warning that some of the medicine that many older Danes take daily can do more harm than good – especially if the prescription has never been reassessed.
It writes the media Tiscali.
The body is getting older – but the prescription does not always follow
With age, the pace falls. This also applies to organs such as liver and kidneys that suddenly no longer break down medicine with the same effectiveness as before. Therefore, doses that were harmless in the younger years may become risky in retirement age.
The problem arises especially when preparations are used by habit, without continuous medication review. The risk grows as the years – and with the number of pills in the dosing box.
Sleeping pills and painkillers top the warning list
Among the preparations that raise the greatest concern, one finds, among other things:
- Z-hypnotics Like Stilnox and Hypnogen used for Insomnia, but can cause dizziness and confusion in the elderly.
- Ibuprofenif taken regularly, increases the risk of kidney damage.
- Gliben chlamidan older diabetes medicine that can lead to dangerously low blood sugar.
- Anticholinergic medicine against stomach acid, allergy or incontinence that can weaken memory and concentration.
- Warfarina blood thinner that requires close monitoring to not lead to severe bleeding.
It’s not because these preparations are necessarily « bad ». But in elderly patients, the side effects can be stronger – and the consequences are more serious.
How to discover the danger signals
A fall on the stairs. A suddenly confused behavior. A fuzzy balance ability. It is often not the age itself that is the culprit – but the effect of wrong medication. And the worst? Many people only discover it when the damage has already happened.
What can you do yourself?
It starts with questions. To the doctor. To the pharmacy. To themselves. Did Mom really still need that sleeping pill from 2011? Is the father’s blood thinners monitored close enough?
A medication review does not take long, but can be the difference between stable everyday life and unnecessary hospitalization.
For the elderly – and for those who help them – it’s not just a good idea. It’s vital.
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