TK seniors often take dangerous pills

Side effects and interactions: Seniors take dangerous pills

08/13/2014

Many seniors take medicines that can cause strong side effects or interactions. This is the result of a study by the Techniker-Krankenkasse (TK). Older people often suffer from various illnesses at the same time and are therefore dependent on a corresponding number of medicines.

Possible strong side effects or interactions
As in the online edition of „Lübeck news“ (LN) is reported by Tuesday, according to a survey by the Techniker-Krankenkasse (TK) takes every sixth Schleswig-Holsteiner over 65 years, at least one drug that can cause him strong side or interactions. If this figure is extrapolated to all statutory health insured persons of retirement age, around 94,000 senior citizens of the northern federal state would be affected. According to the TK, the drugs in question are on a list of the research network „priscus“ listed. The list, which was developed by scientists on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health, has existed since 2010.

Getting older is not always nice
On their website www.priscus.net the experts write: „It's nice that we're getting older ... But getting older is not always nice. Older people often suffer from several chronic diseases, such as heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis or the consequences of a stroke.“ Many seniors are therefore often dependent on a corresponding number of medicines. Volker Clasen from the TK Schleswig-Holstein, explained according to LN: „The organism of seniors reacts differently to drugs, which may affect their effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects and interactions.“

Do not sell medication by hand
The TK calls for their current evaluation 83 at the „priscus“-List of listed active pharmaceutical ingredients that are not safe for seniors. Among other things, it included remedies for hypertension, depression or pain. Side effects that are mentioned include dizziness, gait insecurity, falling, kidney damage with kidney pain, or stomach bleeding. As can be read in the LN, warns. Martin Willkomm (53), chairman of the National Association of Geriatrics Schleswig-Holstein, but before it after a short study of the list of drugs simply sell by hand. „This should be avoided at all costs. In any case, the medication should only be changed by the attending physician or the attending physician“, said the physician, who has been chief physician and medical director at the Red Cross hospital in Lübeck since 2003.

Many drugs are by no means harmless in old age
Among medics is the „priscus“-List not undisputed. Of the drugs listed there, many are not very common. The substances used in everyday clinical practice would only make up a smaller part of the list. In addition, in individual cases, prescribing one of the listed preparations - under increased caution and appropriate control - may well make sense. In addition, the article states: „Many other medications that do not appear on this list are by no means harmless in old age.“

Make drug therapy safer for older patients
Despite „Piscus“-List stressed TK spokesman Clasen, necessarily looking for a conversation with the doctor: „Patients should not stop taking their medication by hand.“ TK offers its insured a special medicine-“statement of account“ to make drug therapy safer for older patients. This so-called insurance information medicine (short: TK ViA) lists all prescribed medication of the last two years and refers to medicines that could be dangerous. (Ad)