by Rebecca Remer

Created on: January 09, 2009

As the growing elderly population seeks medical treatment, more prescriptions are being written and filled for them. The long, blurred issue of prescription drug misuse in the elderly is now forcing its way into clear focus. Though only about 13% of the U.S. population is aged 65 and older at present, within the next decade, this percentage is expected to dramatically increase. This current 13% consumes about 25 to 30 percent of all prescription medications in the United States. This is understandable considering that the elderly have more chronic medical conditions that need treatment. Prescription drugs are capable of prolonging life, providing relief, and improving function. However, when used wrongly, these medications can lead to hazardous side effects and even death. The road to effective medication treatment for the elderly is full of dangerous detours that can lead to misuse.

The characteristic of drug misuse is its unintentional nature. Lack of knowledge and communication (on the part of both the patient and caregiver) is the catalyst for misuse. Misuse can arrive in three ways: 1.) Overuse- The patient accidentally takes too much of their medication, or the Doctor prescribes too high of a dose for the patient. 2.) Underuse- The patient forgets to take their medication, or decides on their own that they don't need the medication. 3.) Incorrect use- Medications are prescribed that contradict each other, medications prescribed for a misdiagnosis, or if the medication is not effective in treating the patients condition. Incorrect use can also result when the patient takes their medication with alcohol, or over-the-counter drugs when contraindicated.

There are several circumstances that can contribute to medication misuse in the elderly. The leading risk factor is the older woman residing in a nursing home with cognitive loss and multiple, chronic medical conditions. Sedative and Psychotropic drugs have a higher incidence of misuse and more women are given prescriptions for them than men. A possible reason for this is that women are more likely to express emotions to their Doctors. The elderly residing in nursing homes are given more prescriptions for these medications as well. Caregiver medication errors can be another factor for misuse in the nursing home. Multiple medical conditions leads to multiple medications, which increases the chance for adverse interactions. Other risk factors for misuse include: having multiple Physicians and pharmacies,

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