Apr 30, 2019
Opioid Overmedication and DeathsChronic pain is one of the most difficult issues a person can face. Diagnosis with long-term symptoms and side effects such as cancer or degenerative disc disease often lead to increased pain levels over time. This pain can become unbearable either due to intensity or endurance and a person will often look for some type of relief in the form of pain medication. While the dangers of additions are widely known, there is still the possibility for someone to become dependent upon or abuse these medications, particularly those in the opioid family. Because the statistics for overdose...
Read MoreFiled Under: elder care, medications, opioid, overmedication, polypharmacy, too many pills
Apr 16, 2019
Overmedication is a major problem for patients of all ages, but especially for the elderly. Due to the increasing number of medical issues that occur as bodies age, it is natural that more medications are prescribed to to combat the effects of growing older. Most elderly patients take at least 1 prescription, and many take 5 or more. This is can be not only financially draining, but also medically dangerous. However, there are ways to prevent overmedication. 1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions One of the best ways to keep yourself or your loved one from being overmedicated is...
Read MoreFiled Under: elder care, medications, overmedication, polypharmacy, too many pills
Apr 11, 2019
Let me ask, “How many medications do you take daily?” Depending upon your age, it is likely that you take 5 or more medications every single day. Some people take as many as 10 or more different medications daily. The overmedication epidemic is one that is truly frightening, because the results of it will not be understood for years to come. What is the Overmedication Epidemic? With each advancement in medical knowledge has come a plethora of medications developed to treat a variety of conditions and illnesses. From blood pressure to diabetes to high cholesterol to arthritis and more,...
Read MoreFiled Under: healthcare quality, medications, overmedication, polypharmacy, preventive healthcare, too many pills
