Aging and Taking Medicines

As you get older you may be faced with more health conditions that you need to treat on a regular basis. It is important to be aware that more use of medicines and normal aging body changes can increase the chance of unwanted or maybe even harmful drug interactions. The more you know about your drugs and the more you talk with your healthcare providers, the easier it is to avoid problems.

Body changes can affect the way medicines are absorbed and used. For example, changes in the digestive system can affect how fast drugs enter the bloodstream. Changes in body weight can influence the amount of medicine you need to take and how long it stays in your body. The circulatory system may slow down, which can affect how fast drugs get to the liver and kidneys. The liver and kidneys also may work more slowly, affecting the way a drug breaks down and is removed from the body.

Because of these body changes, there is also a bigger risk of drug interactions among older adults. It's important to know about drug interactions.

Side effects are unplanned symptoms or feelings you have when taking a medicine. Most side effects are not serious and go away on their own; others can be more bothersome and even serious. To help prevent possible problems with medicines, seniors must know about the medicine they take and how it makes them feel.

Keep track of side effects to help your doctor know how your body is responding to a medicine. New symptoms or mood changes may not be a result of getting older, but could be from the medicine you're taking or another factor, such as a change in diet or routine. If you have an unwanted side effect, call your doctor.