Council on Aging - Answers 2023 - 17

COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
and decreased vitamin absorption. Certain
allergy or cold medications (especially with
diphenhydramine) can result in blurred vision,
confusion, dry mouth, constipation and urination
problems. It is safest to review medication safety
with a health professional. Pharmacists, nurses
and physicians can all help you to varying degrees.
" Deprescribing " of routine medications
is another key part of managing
medications:(4)
it is the process of
stopping or decreasing the dose of
therapies under the guidance of a
health professional. Deprescribing
can reduce the number of
medications you are on and help
prevent adverse medical reactions
such as falls and confusion.
Deprescribing may be also
recommended for you if
you have any existing health
issues, such as kidney problems,
difficulty taking medications, or
memory challenges (and forget medications).
Some medications are unsafe if taken frequently
then abruptly stopped or forgotten (such as
clonidine). Stopping medication on your own
is never a good idea, but reviewing the pros
and cons of stopping or decreasing medications
can be a worthwhile subject for you at a future
medical visit.
There are some commonly overused medications
with risks of complications that can be prioritized
for deprescribing. For example, according to the
American Geriatrics Society 'Criteria for Potentially
Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults',[5,6]
high risk medications include sleep therapies such
as 'benzodiazepine receptor agonists' like zolpidem
and zaleplon, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) such as naproxen or ibuprofen, heartburn
medications such as omeprazole, and sugar
lowering medications such as glyburide. Sometimes
lowering the dose or switching to a different type of
therapy may be what you need. Whatever the best
option for you, a health professional experienced
with the therapies can evaluate and adjust the
Council On Aging - Southern California | 714-479-0107 | www.coasc.org
therapies to best fit your needs.
Our understanding of polypharmacy and
welcoming medication management is an important
part of influencing future health. Between 20-80%
of adverse medication reactions are preventable.[7]
I invite you to help minimize challenges by being
familiar with your treatments, asking questions,
and considering changes recommended by your
healthcare professional. Next time you think " but
I've been taking these medications for many years, "
I invite you to recall that everyone and everything
changes with time, and so can our medication
needs. Polypharmacy can help us minimize
disease but will need a medical guide to help us
ensure the fit is always right.
Dr. Zainab Saadi is a
Senior Citizens Council
Commissioner for the City
of Irvine, and a UC Irvine
Health Sciences Assistant
Clinical Professor in the
Division of General Internal
Medicine. She is passionate about teaching,
patient education and community involvement.
Resources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/
db347.htm
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC4573668/
3. https://bmcpharmacoltoxicol.biomedcentral.
com/articles/10.1186/s40360-020-00464-9
4. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/
issues/2019/0101/p7.html
5. https://www.guidelinecentral.com/
guideline/340784/
6. https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/
learn-more-alternatives-medications-listed-agsbeers-criteriar-potentially
7.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31633827/
Answers Guide 23/24
17
HEALTHCARE & WELL-BEING

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db347.htm https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db347.htm https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4573668/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4573668/ https://www.bmcpharmacoltoxicol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40360-020-00464-9 https://www.bmcpharmacoltoxicol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40360-020-00464-9 https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0101/p7.html https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0101/p7.html https://www.guidelinecentral.com/guideline/340784/ https://www.guidelinecentral.com/guideline/340784/ https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/learn-more-alternatives-medications-listed-ags-beers-criteriar-potentially https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/learn-more-alternatives-medications-listed-ags-beers-criteriar-potentially https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/learn-more-alternatives-medications-listed-ags-beers-criteriar-potentially https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31633827/ http://www.coasc.org

Council on Aging - Answers 2023

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