A Madison pharmacist says older seniors may at greater risk for health problems related to being over medicated. Pharmacist Alan Lukazewski says over medication has long been a concern in the medical community. He says hospital data shows that "adverse medication events" kill 106-thousand people every year, many of them elderly.
Lukazewski says his experience with older adults, particularly those over age 80, is that medications used to reduce risk of problems like fractures, memory loss and incontinence might be of limited benefit, and can lead to increased risks. Lukazewski says significant percentages of seniors can suffer things like dementia and falls that can be attributed to medications — and that can be reversed. He urges older adults and their caregivers to review their medications with their physicians.