Be Alert When Mixing Medications

Older Americans frequently turn their bodies into mixing bowls for multiple medications that can have dangerous, even deadly, effects, a recent study shows.

The researchers, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, discovered that 81 percent of seniors take prescription drugs. More than 50 percent, they said, "used five or more prescription medications, over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements."

For example, one Web surfer wrote to a website: "My mother is 85 and under the care of an internist, a cardiologist and a neurologist. She has almost no energy and is quite depressed. She takes Aldactone, atenolol, Crestor, Diovan, hydrochlorothiazide, Lexapro, Miacalcin, Neurontin, Nexium, Nitro-Dur, Norvasc, Plavix, Rhinocort, Synthroid and tramadol. In addition, she takes Aleve for arthritis pain and aspirin twice a day as needed."

The woman is taking a total of 17 drugs, some combinations of which could threaten her life. Combining aspirin, Aleve and Plavix, for instance, has the potential to make hemorrhaging more likely, including bleeding ulcers. The internist prescribed the acid-suppressing drug Nexium in anticipation of such ulcers. But Nexium and similar pharmaceuticals may block Plavix from preventing heart attacks and strokes.

Also, Aleve can accentuate the drowsiness that Neurontin produces. And it can diminish atenolol's effectiveness in lowering blood pressure. Other dangerous combinations are possible here, too. The key point is that the woman's three doctors collaborated unawares to threaten the life of their patient. And this is only one example of millions of situations of seniors who suffer from several health disorders and see a different specialist for each one.

Another website poster said she was anxious about her sister's ingestion of the antidepressants Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline), the sleeping pill Ambien, and the drugs Tegretol (carbamazepine), atenolol, Lipitor, Zantac and several others for high blood pressure and diabetes. Given this situation, it's not surprising the woman is drowsy, weak, shaky on her feet and experiences breathing problems.

The study found that elderly people frequently take over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements in addition to their prescription pharmaceuticals. But something as simple as pain relievers like aspirin or Aleve can interact with prescribed drugs to wreak havoc in the body. The bottom line is that people need to ask detailed questions of their doctors and pharmacists about possible drug interactions, and do their own research on the Internet or at the library before mixing medications, supplements and the like.