Medicines for the elderly should be used with caution

As age increases, the body's functions become weaker and weaker, leading to many serious diseases. At that time, the use of drugs for the elderly is extremely necessary, helping to treat health problems and prevent complications. However, when using any drug for the elderly, it is necessary to be very careful because they are prone to many potential side effects.

When the body is aging due to age, the performance of many organs tends to decrease significantly. The digestive system of the elderly also no longer absorbs drugs as well as before, leading to slow response. Here are some factors that affect the use of drugs for the elderly, including:
Elderly people are prone to many co-morbid diseases, so the use of drugs to treat diseases at the same time may lead to side effects, even making the disease worse. On the other hand, this also causes interactions between drugs, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers causing gastrointestinal bleeding or stomach ulcers, and increases the risk of kidney failure,... The metabolism of the elderly becomes less active, accompanied by intestinal motility and reduced blood flow to the intestine, thereby leading to a slower absorption of the drug. This can easily cause dangerous complications for the patient's gastrointestinal tract. The mass of tissues in the elderly body also tends to decrease over time, so water mass decreases while fat mass increases. The concentration of drugs will increase when dissolved in water and slow down when dissolved in fat, but easily accumulate toxic to the body. Normally, the drug will be eliminated to the outside through the liver and kidneys. In the elderly, the function of the liver and kidneys is gradually weakened, the amount of nourishing blood also decreases, so the drug metabolism is greatly affected, easy to cause toxicity when the drug accumulates in the body.

As age increases, the risk of chronic diseases increases. Therefore, the strengthening of medicines for the elderly is extremely necessary, helping to minimize complications from the disease and prolong life. However, when using these drugs, special care should be taken by the elderly to prevent drug-induced side effects, including:
2.1 Over-the-counter pain relievers Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs), such as aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen can make some prescription medications you're taking less effective. Ideally, the elderly should not combine NSAIDs with diuretics, blood thinners, diabetes medications, or blood pressure medications. In addition, NSAIDs also adversely affect major organs in the elderly body, such as the liver, kidneys, heart and digestive system.
2.2 Muscle relaxants Doctors often prescribe muscle relaxants to help patients reduce muscle spasms. However, some muscle relaxants such as methocarbamol (Robaxin), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and carisoprodol (Soma) can cause side effects such as confusion, anxiety, increased risk of falls and injury.
2.3 Some diabetes medications for the elderly Elderly people with diabetes who take long-term sulfonylurea drugs, such as chlorpropamide (Diabinese) and glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase), can lead to hypoglycemia. blood sugar (low blood sugar). At that time, people often have symptoms such as shaking, confusion, hunger, sweating, and fatigue. More seriously, the patient can also have convulsions, even death.
2.4 Antihistamines If seniors have allergic rhinitis, their doctor may recommend over-the-counter antihistamines. This drug works to relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis, such as sneezing, but has many unpredictable side effects. Some antihistamines can make older adults feel drowsy, confused, and more likely to fall.
2.5 Sleep aids for the elderly Some medications help older adults sleep at night but can cause problems after waking up, including:
Feeling groggy, losing balance equal to getting out of bed in the morning. The ability to think clearly is affected, easily causing loss of consciousness. Dry mouth, blurred vision, or bladder problems due to the effects of the ingredient Diphenhydramine in some sleeping pills.

2.6 Caution when taking supplements for the elderly For the elderly, because the function of the internal organs has gradually weakened, they need to be supplemented with both food and medicine. However, the use of tonics or energy boosters for the elderly also needs to be used correctly to prevent side effects.
According to experts, the elderly will use tonics or tonics based on their body, including: Welding, heat or neutral. Specifically:
Physical properties of welding: The tonic for the elderly will include those that are temperate, avoid choosing heat medicine because it easily leads to bad reactions to health. Thermal properties: The tonics should be avoided for soldering irons, instead of salary calculation drugs. Neutral location: The tonic includes both moderate and moderate medicine, helping to balance yin and yang in the body. In general, to choose the right tonic or tonic for the elderly, we need to see which organs they are weak in to focus mainly on strengthening that organ, avoiding the use of generic tonics that do not bring benefits. effective again. In addition, tonics for the elderly also need to ensure that there are adequate blood and gas tonics, because according to the concept of Eastern medicine, blood circulation will improve health.

2.7 Vitamin supplements for the elderly Other vitamins and micronutrients are essential for the health of older adults. As you age, your body's ability to absorb vitamins decreases and you need to increase your intake. However, when supplementing vitamins for the elderly, it is also important to note some of the following to avoid unnecessary health risks, including:
Using multivitamins for the elderly needs to be used in the correct dosage It is recommended to avoid overdose, which can be harmful to the body. Note some ingredients in vitamin supplements and consult your doctor before use. Certain substances in vitamin tablets can lead to reactions such as nausea, weight loss or affect appetite in the elderly. 2.8 Anti-anxiety medications for the elderly Elderly people with anxiety may be prescribed a class of benzodiazepines, which include: Alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium). When using these drugs, they stay in the body's system for a long time and are eliminated much more slowly than other drugs. Sometimes, anxiety medications can lead to side effects such as confusion or an increased chance of falling.
2.9 Anticholinergics for older adults Anticholinergics are drugs that inhibit the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, used primarily to treat health conditions in the elderly, such as schizophrenia. irritable bowel, Parkinson's disease and depression. However, long-term use of anticholinergics can cause symptoms such as dry mouth, confusion, and blurred vision in older adults. In addition, older men taking this medicine may develop problems with bladder control.
2.10 Tricyclic antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants are a drug that is rarely prescribed by doctors. In particular, tricyclics such as amitriptyline and imipramine can cause serious side effects in older adults, including: blurred vision, constipation, heart rhythm disturbances, memory problems, confusion, and confusion. Dry mouth. Men taking tricyclic antidepressants may experience problems with urination.

2.11 Antipsychotics for the elderly Some antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, often present many health risks for the elderly age. The use of antipsychotics may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease or bleeding in the brain in people with dementia.
2.12 Elderly Cimetidine (Tagamet) Use Cinetidine is an over-the-counter medication used to treat indigestion, heartburn, and stomach ulcers. For older people taking this medicine may experience side effects such as confusion, confusion even at the usual dosage.
2.13 Combination drug use in seniors When taking any over-the-counter medication, it's important for seniors to look carefully at the label of the medicine to check if they combine more than one active ingredient. Some cold and sinus medications often include a combination of a decongestant and an antihistamine. This combination can cause reactions such as drowsiness, confusion, grogginess, increased blood pressure, and problems with urination in the elderly.
2.14 Laxative use in the elderly Many seniors use laxatives to relieve constipation, such as bisacodyl (Dulcolax). However, long-term and regular use of this drug can cause permanent problems with the intestines, even causing serious digestive dysfunction.
In summary, the elderly should consult a doctor carefully before taking the drug and if there are health problems, they should see a doctor for appropriate indications.

Reference source: webmd.com