Seniors; Are They Being
Over-medicated?
From the University of Buffalo comes an article that raises questions
and concerns about the amount of medications taken
by senior citizens. Dr. Wayne K. Anderson, Dean of the School of
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences states, "Different physicians
use different drugs to treat different conditions, and some of these drugs
interact, in some cases exacerbating the side effects of other drugs that
are being taken for other conditions."
Anderson estimates that senior citizens in the United States age 65 and
older take an average of six to eight prescription drugs daily. His
response is, "That is probably too many. Proper pharmaceutical
therapy management probably could cut in half the number of drugs most
senior citizens now are taking so the amount of money they are spending is
reduced and the quality of their lives is much improved."
Anderson also notes that a person taking eight drugs can expect at
least one drug interaction that will have a negative effect on his health.
Additionally he noted that the American Association of Consultant
Pharmacists suggest that 25 percent of admissions to nursing homes result
from failed drug regimens, noncompliance by patients, drug interactions,
inappropriate medications being prescribed for certain conditions and the
lack of good therapeutic monitoring.
Dr. Andersons answer to this problem is "proper pharmaceutical
therapy management." From a chiropractic perspective the answer
seems obvious. Healthier seniors will just naturally need less
medications. Chiropractic has always focused on removing interference to
the functions of the nervous system and therefore allowing people to
function better. Millions of senior citizens already know this
approach makes sense and works for them.
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