One in six older Americans may be at risk of adverse drug interactions, based on a JAMA Internal Medicine study, according to Drug Store News.
The study analyzed data from 2005 to 2006 and 2010 to 2011, looking for cases of adults consuming more than five medications at one time.
Here are four observations:
1. The study found polypharmacy (concurrent use of more than five prescription medications) cases for Americans aged 62 to 85 increased from 30.6 percent in 2005 to 2006, to 35.8 percent in 2010 to 2011.
2. The number of Americans aged 62 to 85 taking five or more medications or supplements increased from 53.4 percent to 67.1 percent in 2005 to 2006.
3. The researchers analyzed the 20 most common medications and 20 most common supplements. About 15.1 percent of older Americans mixed medications that posed risky interactions in 2010 to 2011.
4. The researchers recommend physicians more avidly discuss prescription and non-prescription medication combinations with patients.
