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Medications Archive
Articles
Is my medication causing these side effects, or is it just aging?
Tracking your progress and symptoms can help you discern the difference.
Image: YakobchukOlena/Thinkstock
You probably know that when you take a medication, you need to tell your doctor about any side effects that develop. But being aware of side effects can be challenging when you're older. "In many cases, the signs of aging are similar to side effects of medications," says Joanne Doyle Petrongolo, a pharmacist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
Similarities
What you should do
To determine if your symptoms are drug side effects or signs of aging, Doyle Petrongolo recommends keeping good records of your health issues and medication changes. "Keep a chart or a log of all medications taken, and record the medication start date. If a side effect is noted within a few days or weeks of starting a medication, then it is more likely that the symptom is medication-related," she explains.
It may be weeks or months before a symptom develops, but don't wait too long to report a symptom, especially if it interferes with your daily activity. "If it lingers for several weeks, then it is a good idea to speak with a doctor or pharmacist to determine the cause," says Doyle Petrongolo.
The fix
Does it matter how you lower your cholesterol?
Certain cholesterol-lowering medications—namely, ezetimibe (Zetia) and drugs known as bile acid binders—also appear to be effective at lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events.
When is it okay to split medication in half?
Splitting a pill into two equal halves is sometimes necessary when needing to adjust dosage, or as a means to save money buy purchasing higher-dose pills. However, splitting is not safe for all pills, so a person should always consult a pharmacist or doctor.
Drugs to prevent heart attacks may also lessen their severity
Medications such as aspirin, statins, ACE inhibitors, and beta blockers are prescribed to certain patients to lower the chance of a first or repeat heart attack. New research shows that they also may reduce the severity of attacks that do occur.
Is your antidepressant making life a little too blah?
Some drugs go too far, dulling emotions across the spectrum. A dose adjustment or a switch to a different medication can help.
听Image: Wavebreakmedia/Thinkstock
When your doctor prescribes a medication for depression, the goal is to reduce painful feelings of sadness or hopelessness. The majority of people taking the most commonly prescribed antidepressants鈥攕elective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)鈥攊mprove substantially. But sometimes, SSRIs go beyond improving mood and make a person feel too little emotion. "Some people feel like they've lost the richness of daily life," says Dr. Michael Craig Miller, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Serotonin and SSRIs
Too effective?
Scaling back the intensity of moods is often the goal. "It's a huge relief if you're very irritable, easily upset, or feeling overly burdened by stress," says Dr. Miller.
But for some people, the reduction in intensity can be experienced as a "blunting" or "dulling" of their emotions. "You might not cry at a movie's happy ending or laugh with the same gusto. Or you might feel apathetic and not get the same kick out of doing things you enjoy, like playing golf or painting," Dr. Miller explains.
Sometimes the blunting affects sexual response. "Some people will say they're not having the same sexual pleasure," says Dr. Miller.
What you should do
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Reminder: Don't skip blood pressure medication
Millions of older adults aren’t taking their blood pressure drugs as directed. Ways to combat adherence problems include asking a doctor for less expensive drugs, understanding what a medication is for, and reporting side effects.
How to trim your medication costs
Prescription drug prices are rising. Three strategies may help lower your pharmacy bill.
听Image: UrosPoteko/Thinkstock
If you're trying to avoid (or already have) heart disease, chances are you're taking several prescription medications. In fact, about a third of adults over age 62 take at least five prescription drugs, which can be a real budget buster for some people. And recent rises in drug prices, especially for new, brand-name medications, are enough to make anyone gulp.
"By working with your doctor and your pharmacist and spending some time shopping around, you may be able to lower your pharmacy bill," says John Fanikos, director of pharmacy at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. He suggests three main strategies:
Gene discoveries may pave the way for new blood pressure drugs
The discovery of 44 gene sites associated with high blood pressure may provide leads for developing new drugs to treat this common condition.
Ask the doctor: Herbal supplements to treat erectile dysfunction?
Herbal supplements are sometimes advertised to improve a man’s sex life by increasing blood flow to the penis, but many are not proven effective for treating ED and may cause serious side effects.
Should you take a drug holiday?
A break from a medication is beneficial only in certain cases.
Image: Rallef/ThinkStock
When you think of a holiday, your medicine cabinet probably doesn't come to mind. But for people who take medications long-term, a drug holiday鈥攁 break from a medication for days or even years鈥攎ay be helpful, for some medicines. "For some people, it gives the body a chance to recover the systems that have been suppressed by the drug," says Dr. Michael Craig Miller, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Why take a break?
How to take a break
You must work with your doctor if you'd like to take a drug holiday. He or she will determine if you're a candidate for a break, and consider chronic health conditions you have and other medications you take. "Everybody's experience will be different," says Dr. Miller.
If your doctor says a drug holiday is not appropriate for your medication, but you feel the drug is not working or is causing unwanted side effects, ask about switching to another drug, how to do that safely, and whether a new medication would have potential side effects or long-term risks. Remember, too, that sometimes finding the right medication takes trial and error. Don't give up; stick with it, and stick to the rules for proper use.
Drug holidays: Don't try them on your ownIn general, stopping a medication abruptly can be risky and even life-threatening. For example, if you suddenly quit taking a proton-pump inhibitor, such as lansoprazole (Prevacid) or omeprazole (Prilosec), used to reduce acid reflux and heartburn, you can suffer a rebound effect鈥攁 relapse marked by a surge of stomach acid. People with advanced Parkinson's disease who stop taking the often-prescribed drug combination of carbidopa and levodopa (Sinemet) may experience severe rigidity, fever, a change in consciousness, and even death. "In the 1980s, a drug holiday was thought to reduce the side effects of the medication by resetting the brain receptors. But the evidence does not show a difference in long-term improvement. We now know there can be severe complications from abruptly withdrawing. I feel that drug holidays have no role in treating Parkinson's disease," says Dr. Albert Hung, a Parkinson's disease specialist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Other medications you must never stop on your own include those to treat high or low blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, severe pain, anxiety, or insomnia. What if you're experiencing side effects from your medication, or you feel it isn't working? "That's not time for a holiday, but it may be time to switch to another drug. But, with your doctor's advice, be sure to taper one while starting another," says Dr. Michael Craig Miller, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. |
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Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help
Tips to leverage neuroplasticity to maintain cognitive fitness as you age
Can white noise really help you sleep better?
Celiac disease: Exploring four myths
What is prostatitis and how is it treated?
What is Cushing syndrome?
Exercises to relieve joint pain
Think your child has ADHD? What your pediatrician can do
Foam roller: Could you benefit from this massage tool?
Stepping up activity if winter slowed you down
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