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How To Avoid Hidden Prescription Drug Risks
To many patients, the notion of doing more harm than good with a prescription drug is a passing thought. After all, medication is dispensed by doctors and pharmacists who are well-versed in treating conditions with drugs. Keeping up with the latest research on risks and benefits of the use of prescription drugs–a $291 billion industry–also seems like a task best left to the professionals.
It’s no surprise then that Americans seem to be dangerously undereducated about the risks of prescription medicine, particularly when combined with over-the-counter drugs and supplements. A study published in December 2008 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that one in 25 adults surveyed, who were between the ages of 57 and 85, were at risk for a major potential drug-drug interaction.
“Patients need to ask questions about their therapies,” says Cynthia Reilly, director of the practice development division at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, a professional association. This common sense approach can be supplemented with other strategies, like scaling back on unnecessary medications, consulting reputable online resources and treating minor issues with lifestyle changes instead of another prescription.
In Depth: How To Avoid Hidden Prescription Drug Risks
What Causes Complications?
Patients often struggle to identify adverse drug interactions or side effects, Reilly says, because there may be no physical symptoms.
For example, hypertension patients who take medication to control blood pressure may render the drug less effective when simultaneously treating a common cold with a nasal decongestant, which increases the heart rate with stimulants. The effect subsides when the patient stops taking the decongestant, but it’s possible to not even realize the interaction occurred unless one monitored blood pressure levels daily.
In more serious cases, an adverse interaction can cause life-threatening complications. Combining the anti-coagulant Warfarin with aspirin, for example, can lead to an increased risk of bleeding, which is particularly hazardous for patients recovering from surgery. Each individual has a unique response to an adverse interaction, but Reilly says patients should contact a pharmacist or physician if they experience a rash or difficulty breathing.
Research has also shown that risk increases with the number of prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and supplements used. The JAMA study found that 68% of the 3,000 older adults surveyed were using all three concurrently; previous studies have shown that the use of five medicines or more at once has increased in recent years.
By: Rebecca Ruiz,
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