“Someone dies at home every hour of the day from errors in taking and prescribing medications,” Michael Negrete, CEO of the Pharmacy Foundation of California, tells Newsmax Health. “It’s one of the top causes of death in the country, and the numbers are growing.”

 

Pat Salber, M.D., a leading internist and emergency care physician in San Francisco says seniors are particularly vulnerable to drug side effects.

 

“Basically any drug that needs to be cleared from the kidneys can be problematic for the elderly, many of whom have reduced renal function,” said Dr. Salber, who runs the Website thedoctorweighsin.com.

 

“Also many drugs have anticholinergic effects which can cause cognitive changes including delirium. They can also cause urinary retention and constipation.”

 

When possible, it’s a good idea for seniors to try non-drug treatments before resorting to prescription medications, says Dr. Salber.

 

Here are six risky drugs for seniors:

 

Diabetes drugs with a long half-life: Diabinese (chlorpropamide) can lead to prolonged and serious hypoglycemia in seniors. Short-acting agents, such as Glucotrol (glipizide) are good alternatives.

 

Anticholinergic antihistamines: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl and others) should be avoided as they can cause confusion, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, cognitive impairment, and delirium. Clearance of the drug from the body is slower in elderly patients. Alternatives include Allegra (fexofenadine) and Claritin (loratadine).

 

Muscle relaxants: Flexeril, Robaxin, and others can also cause the types of anticholinergic effects listed above. Alternatives are to treat the underlying condition with physical therapy, ergonomics, and application of heat or cold.

 

Oral mineral oil for constipation: They can cause inflammation of the lungs. Alternatives are increased fiber in the diet plus adequate hydration (drinking lots of water).

 

Benzodiazepines: Valium and other drugs in this family should be used with caution in the elderly as they can cause or worsen cognitive impairment. They can also cause delirium and an unsteady gait, which leads to falls with serious consequences like hip fractures. Alternatives for anxiety are non-drug interventions such as behavioral therapy or relaxation techniques, like yoga.

 

Potassium-sparing diuretics: Triamterene, amiloride, and spironolactone should be used with extreme caution in the elderly who may have reduced renal function. They can cause dangerous elevations in potassium levels, which can lead to serious, even lethal cardiac arrthymias.

 

“It’s important to remember that these are very useful drugs, it is just that they have to be used with caution in the elderly,” Dr. Salber tells Newsmax Health.

 

“Recommendations need to be personalized based on the doctor’s evaluation of the overall physiological state of the individual. This is the age of personalized medicine so we need to use all this information to help guide our decision in a more targeted way.”

 

It’s also important to read labels carefully, she says, and follow dosage recommendations. If you are taking several prescriptions, make sure your doctor knows about all of them.