As we grow older and older our dependency on medications increase and a report gave an estimate that approximately 60% of people above the age of 65 take about 8-10 medicines per day and not surprisingly about 80% of elderly Americans that are single depend on more 20 plus medications per day.

When there is so much dependency on medicines it is very important to take the same way that they are being prescribed. Sadly the right directions are not followed for one or more of these reasons:

• Excess drugs, make one difficult to remember the exact purpose and directions of taking.
• Age-related visual and mental inabilities that make people commit mistakes
• Medicines sometimes are shared and directions of using the same forgotten to be shared
• Dependency on the OTC drugs.
• Drug adverse reactions
• When the medication fails to immediately show response, most people fail to include it daily.
• Cost of medications refrain people from including the same.

However, the aforementioned reasons will make one’s cases poorer and make him/her depend one medication even more.

A regular visit to the doctor and revision on the medications along with their effects will make a change. A physician can know whether the medicine can be continued or not, not you. Additionally, effect of drugs change with age as well so one who is 70 years of age should expect the same result as that seen in a 60 year old. It is very important to understand that drug absorption, metabolism as well as action on the body change a lot with age.

It is unfortunate that we have to depend on so many medications, but eventually they are to ease our pain and distress, so follow the guidelines diligently and stay healthy for long.

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