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Drug safety issues change as you age. This is what you should know.

Aging brings many changes, and those changes can affect your medicine cabinet.

The older you are, the greater the likelihood that you will need to take more medications. In fact, nearly half of adults age 65 and older take five or more medications every month. 1

Taking multiple medications regularly (polypharmacy) increases Tofacitinib 5mg – Tofaxen your chances of having adverse side effects, drug interactions , and other complications.

Prescribing medications to adults aged 65 and over involves other difficulties

Because of the way the body absorbs, distributes, uses, and eliminates medication, adults age 65 and older respond to medications differently than younger people. For example, certain medications are more likely to cause a fall as you age, since they carry a higher risk of instability and fainting.



The effectiveness of medications can also change as you age. Depending on the medication, you may be more or less sensitive to its effect, requiring a change in dosage.

There is also a lack of more information regarding medication use in relation to people in this age group. This is because when drug manufacturers conduct clinical trials for a new drug, they typically test it on people who don't take many medications. Additionally, they rarely test medications specifically in adults 65 years and older, so there is little information about treatment and safety guidelines for adult patients in this age group.

Due to difficulties in prescribing medications for people 65 years of age and older, one in six older adults will have an adverse reaction to a medication. 2

What are the Beers criteria and how are they used?

You may have heard of Beers Criteria ® (the Beers Criteria) or the Beers List. Named for the doctor who developed them, the Beers criteria are a list of potentially inappropriate medications for adults age 65 and older.

Every three years, a panel of experts from the American Geriatrics Society evaluates studies and controlled clinical trials to see if any recommendations need to change. Doctors, pharmacists, and other health care professionals use the list when prescribing medications to older patients.

If a medication is on the Beers list, that doesn't automatically mean you should avoid it or that it's dangerous for you. All medications can cause side effects, and you and your healthcare team should consider the risks and benefits of each medication, therapy, and procedure.