Why Does My Relative Have To Take So Much Medicine?

If someone you care for is over 65 you probably manage from two to seven or more medications every day.

Of the 1.7 billion prescriptions written each year over a third are for older adults. Certain medicines you decide to take yourself. Others are prescribed by your doctor. You may feel like your whole day revolves around medication planning for your loved one. It is important to understand that different medicines work in different ways.

Medicines can:

• Cure illness. Antibiotics kill bacteria that cause infections like pneumonia.

• Make you feel better. Aspirin relieves the pain of arthritis or headache.

• Help your body work better. Digitalis regulates an uneven heart rate.

• Slow the progress of an illness. Drugs can control high blood pressure even though they cannot cure it.

• Prevent illness. Flu shots protect you from the flu virus.

Sometimes you can tell right away that a medicine is helping. Other times improvement is more gradual. A sore throat can feel better after a day or two of antibiotics. It may take several months of taking a medication to see an improvement in blood cholesterol levels. Always be sure that prescription medications are taken for as long as the doctor recommends – even if your loved one feels better or doesn't notice any improvement right away.

Some diseases like glaucoma and high blood pressure have few symptoms but medications keep these diseases from getting worse. Be sure your loved one keeps taking the medicine even if symptoms improve. If new symptoms develop while your loved one is taking a medication, contact the doctor immediately. The new symptoms could be a side effect of the medicine. The doctor will tell you if the symptoms will go away after awhile or stop taking the medication and try a different one.

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST:

• What is the name of the medicine?

• What is it supposed to do?

• Are there any side effects? What should I do if they occur?

• How should this medicine ben taken?

• What should I do if I miss a dose?

• Are there any foods, beverages or other medicines to avoid while taking this medicine?

• How should this medicine be stored? Does it need to be refrigerated?