Medicines in old age: Stiftung Warentest warns about active ingredients

The number of pills you take quickly increases with age – for example, if you take a blood pressure medication, you will usually also be prescribed a stomach protector. Then your knee hurts more often than it did 20 years ago, and you reach for painkillers to relieve the pain. But older people not only take medication more often, they often also tolerate it worse than a healthy woman in her mid-30s. has listed which medications can be dangerous for older people and what alternatives there are.

As people get older, many have to take more medication because they are more susceptible to illness. This is due to the aging process in the body, which also makes us more sensitive to medication, explains Professor Petra Thürmann, pharmacologist at the Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, to Stiftung Warentest. The poorer tolerance is simply due to human biology. “Some organs work more and more slowly over the course of life, for example the liver and kidneys,” explains the expert. The result: medication can no longer be broken down as quickly, and its effect lasts longer and is stronger. This can lead to side effects that often resemble symptoms typical of old age.

Medication in old age: Stiftung Warentest gives tips on how to avoid side effects

According to a study by the , 6.5 percent of cases in German emergency rooms are due to adverse drug reactions – mostly affecting older people. To prevent medication from harming older people, experts led by Petra Thürmann have developed the . It contains 177 active ingredients that should not be used by people over 65 or should only be used with particular caution. Some medications are not discouraged per se, but only after a certain period of use or after a certain dose. For example, if you take an ibuprofen every now and then, you don’t have to worry.

To avoid side effects, errors in use and interactions, the product testers have four basic tips:

1. Create a medication plan with your family doctor

It should list all prescription and non-prescription medications with their name, active ingredient, dosage, reason for taking them and time of taking them.

2. Keep medication plan up to date and apply it

The medication plan should always be up to date. It should be presented at every doctor’s visit, in the hospital and at the pharmacy and updated as necessary. If a new medication is to be prescribed, the doctor can use the list to see what is already being taken and adjust the prescription. And interactions between medications can be avoided.

3. Take inventory

Once a year you should check with your family doctor whether you should continue taking all your medications or whether some are no longer necessary.

4. Seek help if you see warning signs

If medications have been changed and symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, constipation or dry mouth occur shortly after taking the new medication, this should definitely be clarified with your family doctor and/or the doctor who prescribed the new medication.

From painkillers to anti-nausea pills

Many households have a number of medicines in their medicine cabinet that are available over the counter. According to the Priscus list, some of these are critical for older people. These include painkillers containing the active ingredients acetylsalicylic acid, diclofenac and phenazone. Depending on the active ingredient, there is an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal problems such as bleeding or ulcers. The risk of cardiovascular disease is also increased. To relieve pain in the short term, older people can use the active ingredients paracetamol, ibuprofen or naproxen. No more than 1200 milligrams of ibuprofen should be taken per day. No more than 500 milligrams of naproxen per day. Neither painkiller should be taken for longer than a week to avoid unwanted side effects.

Another example is the active ingredient dimenhydrinate, which is contained in travel tablets, Vomacur or Vomex A. People over 65 should avoid them because they can cause confusion, dizziness or, for example, impaired memory and thinking skills. The product testers suggest ginger recipes as an alternative to nausea.

In addition to non-prescription drugs, Stiftung Warentest has also examined drugs that are frequently prescribed in Germany, such as blood pressure lowering drugs or antidiabetics, and has listed critical active ingredients and alternatives. What does this mean for older people? If there are problems with prescribed medication, the family doctor is the first point of contact. With the help of the Priscus list, people over 65 can find out about critical active ingredients and thus better discuss the medication with experts. For non-prescription drugs, a look at the list can help to determine which active ingredients are safe.