This article explains how age can affect drug effects and why it is important to look up drug side effects before taking any medication.
If you are an older adult, you may be taking one or more medications to treat your chronic conditions or symptoms.
While medications can help you manage your health and improve your quality of life, they can also cause unwanted or harmful effects, especially as you age.
In this article, we will explain how age can affect drug effects and why it is important to look up drug side effects before taking any medication.
We will also provide some tips on how to prevent or manage adverse drug reactions in older adults.
How Age Can Affect Drug Effects?
As we age, our body undergoes various physiological changes that can affect the way we absorb, distribute, metabolize, and excrete drugs.
These changes can alter the effectiveness and safety of the medications we take and increase the risk of drug interactions and side effects.
Some of the common age-related changes that can affect drug effects are:
Increase in body fat
As we age, our body composition changes and we tend to have more fat relative to our bones and muscles.
This can affect the distribution of drugs that are fat-soluble, such as benzodiazepines, antihistamines, and opioids.
Decrease in body water
As we age, our body water content decreases and we become more prone to dehydration.
This can affect the distribution of drugs that are water-soluble, such as digoxin, lithium, and aminoglycosides.
Decrease in liver function
As we age, our liver size and blood flow decrease and we produce fewer liver enzymes.
This can affect the metabolism of drugs that are mainly broken down by the liver, such as warfarin, statins, and acetaminophen.
Decrease in kidney function
As we age, our kidney size and blood flow decrease and we lose some of our nephrons (the filtering units of the kidneys).
This can affect the excretion of drugs that are mainly eliminated by the kidneys, such as metformin, NSAIDs, and diuretics.
These age-related changes can also affect the way our body responds to drugs.
For example, as we age, our brain becomes more sensitive to drugs that act on the central nervous system (CNS), such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and sedatives.
Why You Should Look Up Drug Side Effects?
Because of these age-related changes, older adults are more likely to experience side effects from their medications.
Side effects are unplanned symptoms or feelings that occur when taking a medication.
Some side effects are mild and go away on their own; others are more serious and require medical attention.
Some common side effects that older adults may experience from their medications are:
- Gastrointestinal problems: Some medications can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, ulcers, or bleeding in the digestive tract.
- Cardiovascular problems: Some medications can cause changes in blood pressure, heart rate, rhythm, or contractility.
- CNS problems: Some medications can cause changes in mood, cognition, behavior, coordination, or alertness.
- Endocrine problems: Some medications can cause changes in blood sugar, thyroid function, or hormone levels.
- Allergic reactions: Some medications can cause allergic reactions, such as rash, itching, swelling, or anaphylaxis.
How to Prevent or Manage Side Effects in Older Adults?
While some side effects are unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to prevent or manage them in older adults. Here are some tips:
Review your medications regularly
You should review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist at least once a year or whenever you start or stop a medication.
You should also keep a list of all your medications, including prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, and dietary supplements, and bring it with you to every medical appointment.
Use the lowest effective dose
You should use the lowest effective dose of your medication for the shortest possible time.
This will help you reduce the risk of side effects and drug accumulation in your body.
Monitor your response
You should monitor your response to your medication and report any changes or problems to your doctor or pharmacist.
You should also check your blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, and other vital signs regularly if you are taking medications that can affect them.
Manage your lifestyle
You should manage your lifestyle to improve your health and reduce the need for medications.
You should eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, and manage stress.
