MEDICATION
Senior's often take multiple medications to treat health conditions. Taking four or more medications can significantly increase the risk for falling. There are a greater number of side effects associated with multiple medication use and the side effects are often intensified. Interactions between medications can themselves also cause side effects. It is important to remember that as a person gets older medications react differently in the body which can increase the risk for falling.
If four or more medications are taken by the same person, it is advisable to speak to their doctors about possibly reducing the number of medications in order to reduce the senior's risk of falling.
Rules for the safe use of medication include:
Medicines used to help control high blood pressure are one example of medications which can increase a senior's risk of falling. These medicines can cause side effects such as dizziness or becoming light headed. If any of these symptoms are experienced the senior should talk to their doctor and take the following practical steps: stand up slowly when rising from a seated position; when getting out of bed hang your legs over the side of the bed before getting up.
Please visit the following sites for additional information regarding drug interactions and senior health.
http://www.mustforseniors.org/resources.jsp
http://www.mnfallsprevention.org/consumer/medications.html
http://www.fallpreventiontaskforce.org/falls_medication.htm
If four or more medications are taken by the same person, it is advisable to speak to their doctors about possibly reducing the number of medications in order to reduce the senior's risk of falling.
Rules for the safe use of medication include:
- Keep a list of all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, as well as all dietary and herbal supplements that the senior is taking, and show this list to each doctor and pharmacist they visit.
- Ask if a newly prescribed medication or supplement replaces something else, or interacts with anything else currently being taken.
- Take medications as labeled, whether prescription or over-the-counter.
- Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, or blood sugar as recommended by your doctor.
- Report any side effects of the medication to your physician..
- Alcohol interacts with many medications, this often makes the effects of the medications worse.
- Don't hesitate to talk with your doctor(s) and pharmacist(s) about any concerns and communicate with your other caregivers and family regarding these issues.
Medicines used to help control high blood pressure are one example of medications which can increase a senior's risk of falling. These medicines can cause side effects such as dizziness or becoming light headed. If any of these symptoms are experienced the senior should talk to their doctor and take the following practical steps: stand up slowly when rising from a seated position; when getting out of bed hang your legs over the side of the bed before getting up.
Please visit the following sites for additional information regarding drug interactions and senior health.
http://www.mustforseniors.org/resources.jsp
http://www.mnfallsprevention.org/consumer/medications.html
http://www.fallpreventiontaskforce.org/falls_medication.htm
