Drug Information Q&A Q25. What precautions should elderly people take when using medicines?
Answer
It is useful to keep a calendar or notebook for medicines to prevent forgetting to take a dose or making a mistake. Also, be careful about the posture of the patient and the method of administering the medicine so that it does not get stuck in the throat.
Explanation
Elderly people sometimes forget or misuse medicines due to misunderstandings. Many of them use medicines every day and are accustomed to taking them, so they often make the mistake of taking them by mistake. It is important to manage medicines well and take measures to prevent misuse.
Many patients have difficulty swallowing, so it is important to have them take their medicines with plenty of water.
Ingesting medicines while in a lying position may cause a blockage in the throat or unexpected side effects if the medicine gets into the bronchial tubes. It is important to raise the bedridden elderly person up as much as possible when giving them medicines.
Care should also be taken not to give the same medication to the same person at the same time. Elderly people often visit several hospitals and clinics and receive medicines from each institution. The effects of drugs may be strengthened or weakened by their interaction with each other.
When visiting a different hospital or doctor's office, please bring your "Medication Handbook" with you and tell the doctor the name of the medication you are already using.
As people age, their ability to break down and excrete drugs gradually declines. The dose you have been taking may be too much. If you experience unusual symptoms, consider the possibility that the side effects may be caused by too large a dose, and consult your doctor.
In addition, some facilities for the elderly go to the trouble of crushing tablets* and mixing them with thickening agents for cooking in order to make them easier to take, which places a heavy burden on caregivers.
To solve these problems, orally disintegrating tablets were developed, which dissolve quickly when placed in the mouth. Although the size of the drug is quite large, it dissolves in the mouth like a candy bar, so there is no need to worry about it getting stuck in the throat. Jelly and paste formulations of medicines, as well as swallowing aid jellies that make it easier to swallow medicines, have also been developed.
As you can see, there are medicines designed to be easy to use for the elderly, so please make sure to use medicines that suit their condition.
In addition to the size and material of the medicine, there are also innovations such as color packaging, larger letters, and Braille, as the elderly have difficulty in identifying the medicine. If you have difficulty using a prescribed medication, it is important to consult with your doctor or pharmacist to see if you can have it switched to another medication.
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As of December 2023Some tablets can be crushed while others cannot. It is necessary to consult with a doctor or pharmacist before taking a pill.
Chart/Column
25｜Characteristics of the Elderly Body
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