The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recognizes that as we age, we become more susceptible to adverse health issues related to medications. According to the FDA,“The older you get, the more likely you are to use additional medicines, which can increase the chance of harmful drug effects, including interactions. And, as you age, physical changes can affect the way medicines are handled by your body, leading to potential complications”.
To help keep you safe as you age, the FDA offers
4 Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults. The four tips include:
- Take medicine as prescribed - with input from your heatlhcare provider
- Keep a medication list
- Be aware of potential drug interactions and side effects
- Review medications with your healthcare provider
“As a society, we have become reliant on pharmaceuticals to help us attain a longer and higher-quality life. It’s a wonderful success of Western medicine,” notes Sandra L. Kweder, M.D., F.A.C.P., a medical officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “The goal should be for each of us to access that benefit but respect that medicines are serious business. To get the most out of them, you should take them with great care and according to directions.”