It’s not unusual for people to be prescribed the same medications for years — or even decades. But what patients often don’t realize is that your medication sensitivity can change over those years.
“It can be something you’ve taken for years, but suddenly you react to it differently,” says Ghada Ashkar, PharmD, associate chief of ambulatory pharmacy at UCLA Health. “It’s important to notice these changes and bring them to your doctor’s attention.”
How aging affects your medication needs
It’s no secret that your body at 70 doesn’t work the same as it did at 30. You may make certain accommodations for physical changes that limit your mobility or endurance. You may have altered your diet to better suit an aging digestive system. And yet, you likely haven’t thought twice about your medications.
“Lots of things change that affect how your body absorbs and metabolizes medication as you get older,” explains Dr. Ashkar. One change is that your digestive system may slow down how quickly it processes drugs you ingest.
Your kidneys and liver play vital roles in metabolizing medications. If those organs are no longer functioning at 100% efficiency, it changes the way your body handles medications.
“The liver is responsible for breaking down and metabolizing medications so the body can either activate or eliminate them,” says Dr. Ashkar. “And the kidneys’ job is to excrete the drugs in the urine to get rid of what your body doesn’t need.”
The combination of these physical changes can mean that medication stays in your system longer and causes more side effects. If you gained or lost weight with age — or drastically altered your activity levels — that can also impact how medication affects you.
The problem of polypharmacy
Polypharmacy is a fancy word for someone who routinely takes five or more prescription medications. Taking multiple medications becomes more common with age — with an estimated one-third of older adults falling into this category.
“The more medications you’re taking on a daily basis, the more likely you are to experience negative drug interactions and other side effects,” says Dr. Ashkar. If you are 65 or older and taking more medications than you used to, that risk increases.
Warning signs of medication interactions and side effects
Whether you’re taking just one medication or half a dozen, a new prescription or one you’ve been on for years, it’s important to stay alert to how it makes you feel.
Be on the lookout for new or changing symptoms that may be related to your medications. These can include:
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Imparied balance
- Increased bruising or bleeding
- Sleepiness
- Water retention or swelling
Getting help to manage medications more safely
Use your doctors’ appointments as a chance to discuss your medications and how they’re making you feel. At least once a year, work with your doctor to evaluate the medications you’re taking. It’s possible there are some you no longer need to be on. And there may be better alternatives for others that are starting to cause side effects.
Your pharmacist can be your best resource for help when navigating multiple medications or unwanted side effects. Each time you pick up a new or refilled prescription is an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns.
“Even if you’re picking up a new over-the-counter medication or supplement, stop and ask your pharmacist if it might negatively interact with your other medications,” suggests Dr. Ashkar. “And if you take something and feel different, bring that up too.”
Too often, people tend to write off health changes as just a part of getting older. But some of the side effects of medication can be serious for older adults. And with a few tweaks from your doctor or pharmacist, they might also be easily avoided.
