Kimberly Reich, PharmD, Associate Vice President of Pharmacy
How many medications do you or a loved one take each day? Americans are routinely prescribed medications, with more added for older individuals and others with complex medical conditions. Research indicates almost 70% of Americans ages 40-79 take one medication a day and over 20% take five or more pills daily.
Medical conditions that require visits with specialty doctors, procedures, lab work, numerous health care visits, or hospitalizations often come with added medications. For many, it can be time-consuming and confusing to keep up with multiple pills, dosing times, and whether a pill is taken with or without food. If vitamins and other supplements are added, the mix can lead to challenges with medication interactions and side effects.
Polypharmacy refers to an individual regularly taking five or more medications each day. While many medications are often needed, this amount can increase the risk of drug-drug interactions. In addition, certain foods or supplements may also react with medications. These interactions can cause multiple side effects, including dizziness, fatigue, nausea, confusion, headaches, diarrhea, and constipation.
A side effect can be harmful or interfere with everyday life. Medications are meant to help, not harm, which is why knowing how each medication works is vital.
Medication adherence with multiple pills can become a challenge, and people may stop taking medications due to negative side effects or cost. In the older population, polypharmacy can increase the risk of confusion and falls, and in some cases, mixing too many medications can even lead to dementia symptoms. While numerous medications are often necessary for complex medication conditions, it’s important to be aware of risks and side effects to help maximize the benefits of your medication regimen.
Certain drugs can also have “normal” side effects, and some medications may be used solely for their side effects. For example, diphenhydramine, marketed as Benadryl, is a mild antihistamine used for colds and allergies with a common side effect of drowsiness. This medication may be recommended to adults for sleep and is a common ingredient found in most over-the-counter sleep aids.
Often a new medication is necessary to treat a side effect. For example, pain medication often causes constipation, and a laxative may be prescribed to remedy this. A potential issue to watch out for with polypharmacy is called the prescription cascade. This is when the side effects of one medication are mistakenly viewed as a new medical condition, and a second new medication is prescribed. One example is when an anti-hypertensive medication is prescribed, and the hypertension is unknowingly caused by the use of an over-the-counter NSAID or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen.
There are several ways to help prevent a prescription cascade. It’s important to be informed and act as an advocate for yourself or a loved one to ensure medication safety.
Keep an updated list of all medications and take the list or a bag of your actual medications to each provider visit. Include any over-the-counter medications you routinely use along with dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, or herbs. Many people are unaware that dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications are powerful and can interact with prescription medications, increasing the risk of side effects.
Any time a new medication is prescribed, make sure you know why the drug is being prescribed and how it should be taken. Read the medication safety information for potential side effects and the best time to take it. Ask your provider how it may interact with prescription drugs you are already taking. Notice anything out of the ordinary for the next 30 days, including headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or confusion. Contact your health care provider immediately with any new issues or side effects related to the new medication.
Use one pharmacy for all your medications. This can help prevent potential drug reactions from medication mix-ups. Ask to speak to a pharmacist any time you have questions about your medications or when starting a new medication. Your pharmacist is a wonderful resource to ask questions like how and when to take medications for optimal effectiveness with fewer side effects and potential drug interactions.
Utilize a pill organizer to make it easier to manage multiple medications each day. An organizer can help you manage your daily medication routine by providing separate compartments for morning, afternoon, evening, and bedtime pills.
Request a medication review visit at least annually with your primary health care provider to review all your current medications. A comprehensive medication review is covered by Medicare Part D. This time with your provider is important to review what each medication is used for, the dosage, and how to take it, and to discuss any problems you may be having.
HopeHealth pharmacists provide care and expertise in serving patients with chronic conditions and help assist patients and their health care providers directly with medication management. HopeHealth offers five pharmacy locations to better serve you: two pharmacies in Florence, at the Medical Plaza and Pine Needles locations, and our Manning, Kingstree, and Orangeburg locations.
HopeHealth patients are able to conveniently receive their medications at the same location they receive primary or specialty medical services. Free delivery may also be available. Medication assistance is available for qualifying patients and proceeds from the pharmacy are reinvested back into patients by helping those struggling to afford medical care and broadening access to specialty services. The Rx Local app allows for easy refills, medication reminders, direct messaging with the pharmacy, and managing the entire family’s medications. Make the switch to the HopeHealth Pharmacy and let us help you manage your medications and feel your best!
Please visit the HopeHealth Pharmacy at one of our five locations, call HopeHealth at (843) 667-9414, or visit hope-health.org for more information.