You'd be surprised how many aren't.
A systematic study of 13,000+ hypertemsion patients from 15 countries found that half didn't take it consistently.
About 9 out of 10 people with nose inhalers are using them incorrectly.
Sixty-five percent of elders may be on meds they don't need.
And taking heartburn medicines, to name a few.
Which is surprising, since it's a well known fact that taking prescription meds consistently lowers the risk of hospitalization and even death.
Most people using metered-dose inhalers, for example, for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) either don't fire the canister completely or don't hold their breath long enough.
People who take proton pump inhibitors (like omeprazole) take them at the wrong time. Taking it 30 minutes before a meal really helps; taking it right before bedtime can give you a night of heartburn.
Are you really sure you're not taking medications you don't need?. This is a particular problem for seniors, because the higher the number of prescriptions, the higher the chances of impaired cognition, falls, and other side effects. You need to go over your list with your doctor(s) and eliminate the meds that are just grandfathered in.
Voltaire once said, "The best is the enemy of the good," and it can be that way with prescription meds. For years, doctors have recommended anti-platelet meds like clopidogrel (brand name Plavix) after a procedure to open a blocked coronary artery ofter heart attack. Then, in 2009 and 2011, the FDA approved two new anti-platelet drugs that were medically better; the new drugs' prescriptions soared. After all, they were the best.
But then, the number of people who didn't pick up their anti-platelet from the pharmacy tripled, and they became more likely to have a second heart attack. It turned out that the new meds were more than twice as costly. Which goes to show that a medicine that's slighly less effective but you can afford may be better for you than the most effecive one, which you can't.
That's why, at Senior Insights, we don't take things for granted. Different people have different needs, and our detailed needs assessment discovers what they are. Then, we create a custom care plan that covers everything from prescription drug management to ongoing health monitoring, bathroom assistance, cooridnating with lawn care, housecleaning, and more – all to give our clients the maximum independence possible.
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