Did you know becoming older can influence how the body is affected by medicines? Raising awareness of the way the body handles and reacts to medicines as we age is a focus of this Be Medicinewise Week.
It’s not that things change suddenly when we turn 65. Rather, the gradual process of ageing means that older people’s bodies handle medicines slightly differently to younger people’s bodies.
Many people are unaware that age-related changes can affect:
- how medicines are removed from your body by your kidneys
- how medicines are broken down by your liver
- how and where a medicine is stored in your body.
This means the effect a medicine has on you now could be different to the effect a medicine had when you were younger.
What does this mean?
If you become more sensitive to medicines, you may:
- experience stronger effects
- become more prone to unintended side effects
- develop harmful medicine interactions.
Taking multiple medicines?
Around two in every five Australians aged 50 or over take at least five medicines a day. Taking multiple medicines can contribute to medicine mistakes, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ways to manage you medicines.
How can I be more medicinewise?
Your doctor or other health professional may need to take greater care to work out which medicine and dose is most appropriate for you. Take medicines exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Your health professional may also recommend:
- taking a lower dose of some or all of your medicines
- taking a medicine for a limited period of time
- having tests that check your kidney or liver function
- keeping a Medicines List.
Be Medicinewise Week is on from 12–18 October, and promotes the safer and wiser use of medicines by all Australians.
To learn more visit nps.org.au/be-medicinewise-week.
