Globe: "Multiple medications are a problem for seniors. Here’s how to reduce..."

Globe and Mail (Canada):

Multiple medications are a problem for seniors. Here’s how to reduce the risks.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health-advisor/multiple-medications-are-a-problem-for-seniors-heres-how-to-reduce-the-risks/article31134431/ 

Excerpt:

Each new drug that's added to the mix increases the risk of adverse side effects and medication interactions.

The elderly are especially vulnerable to these problems. Not only do they tend to have more chronic conditions than younger people, but the aging process can also change the way the body handles medications.

For instance, the liver and kidneys – which play a key role in processing and excreting drugs – tend to work less efficiently as we age.

In fact, the liver can sometimes become overwhelmed trying to handle several drugs simultaneously. As a result, certain medications don't get "activated" and essentially won't work.

"Picture a bus and everyone is trying to get on at the same time – some people are not going to fit and will be left behind," explains Dr. Cara Tannenbaum, co-director of the Canadian Deprescribing Network, a group that is trying to prevent the inappropriate use of medications.

Furthermore, as we age, we lose muscle mass which is replaced with fat and that can cause problems because some drugs are stored in fat tissue. This means medications can linger longer in the body and thereby exaggerate their effects, Wintemute says.