When you’re an older adult, a person typically aged 65 or older who may face unique health challenges and medication needs. Also known as seniors, this group often manages several health conditions at once, which means taking more than one drug—sometimes five or more. This is called polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications by a patient, often leading to increased risk of side effects and interactions. It’s not about taking too many pills—it’s about taking the right ones for your body right now.
Drugs that were fine at 40 can hit differently at 70. Your liver and kidneys don’t process medicine the same way they used to. That means even common meds like antihistamines, blood pressure pills, or pain relievers can cause dizziness, confusion, or falls. For example, desloratadine, a non-drowsy allergy drug often prescribed to older adults, can still cause brain fog, making it harder to focus or remember things. Same with prochlorperazine, a nausea medication that can slow movement and increase fall risk. These aren’t rare side effects—they’re predictable, and they’re often overlooked because they’re blamed on "just getting older." But they don’t have to be.
What makes this even trickier is that many older adults are on long-term meds like immunosuppressants, heart drugs, or antidepressants. Each one needs regular monitoring—blood tests, eye exams, heart checks—to catch problems early. That’s why therapeutic drug monitoring, the process of measuring medication levels in the blood to ensure safety and effectiveness matters so much. A simple lab test can prevent a hospital visit. And when side effects do happen, there are often better alternatives. You don’t have to stick with a drug that leaves you tired, confused, or unsteady. There’s usually another option that works just as well—and doesn’t steal your quality of life.
It’s not just about avoiding bad reactions. It’s about finding the right balance. Some meds help you live longer. Others help you live better. The goal isn’t to cut pills—it’s to cut the ones that aren’t helping anymore. And if you’re managing something like arthritis, diabetes, COPD, or nerve pain, there are non-drug strategies too: exercise, support groups, diet changes, even physical therapy. The posts below give you clear, no-fluff comparisons of common drugs older adults take, what they really do to your body, and what else you could try instead. No jargon. No hype. Just what works—and what doesn’t—for your age, your health, and your daily life.
The Beers Criteria identify potentially dangerous medications for adults over 65. Learn which drugs to avoid, why they're risky, and how to talk to your doctor about safer alternatives.
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