Elderly Medication: Less is Best, Avoid Self-Switching
As people age, minor ailments are inevitable. However, many seniors, eager to recover, often fail to follow medical advice,擅自 increasing their dosage and frequency of medication, leading to unnecessary side effects. For the elderly, whose organ functions are gradually weakening, medication should prioritize "less is more."
1. Dosage Should Be Reduced. As the saying goes, "illness comes like a mountain, and leaves like a thread." The therapeutic effects of medication also take time. Compared to their youth, older adults have weakened digestive functions, which can slow drug absorption; the production and activity of liver drug enzymes decrease, increasing their sensitivity to drugs and the likelihood of adverse reactions; and kidney excretion function is reduced, making them more prone to accumulation and toxicity. These factors all indicate that medication for the elderly should be tailored to the individual, starting with a low dose and adjusting the treatment plan based on factors like age, gender, weight, and the severity of the illness.
2. Fewer, More Focused Medications. As memory declines in the elderly, they may unconsciously take the wrong dose, miss a dose, or take too much medication. Using too many different medications increases the likelihood of these errors.
3. Medication Should Be Moderate. Treatment goals for the elderly should not be set too high. Sometimes, overtreatment can be more dangerous than the disease itself. For example, hypertension in the elderly is often accompanied by atherosclerosis. A blood pressure of around 135/85 mmHg is sufficient, as blood pressure that is too low could trigger a stroke.
Here is a tip for our elderly friends: when taking medication, follow the "Four Do's, Three Cautions, and Two Don'ts": Do follow your doctor's instructions, do inform your doctor of all medications you are taking, do save your medical records, and do get regular check-ups. Be cautious of drug interactions, pay attention to changes in your body, and be mindful of your diet. Do not change your medication on your own, and do not rely on hearsay or mistakenly use health supplements as medication.