What common medicines could be dangerous and how can you stay safe?

What are the common medicines that could be dangerous to your health, and how can you stay safe?

A recently released study by the University of Aberdeen found that regular use of certain medications by older people can increase the risk of falls, heart attacks, dementia and even death.

Around half of all older adults in the UK use anticholinergic medicines, which are used to treat various conditions, including allergies, irritable bladder and nausea.

Previous attempts to reduce the over-prescribing of these medications have focused on targeting the prescriber and have had limited success.

A team of researchers from the university is trying a new approach in which the patient is empowered to question the prescriber and be more involved in the decision-making around their care.

Dr Carrie Stewart, who is managing the project, said: “They can be prescribed for many people in different circumstances.

“Some commonly prescribed include Cetirizine and Promethazine for allergies, Hyoscine for bowel issues, Oxybutynin for bladder issues, Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline for neuropathic pain.

“The side effects to be aware of include dry eyes, dry mouth, constipation, and confusion.”

What precautions can you take?

Dr Stewart recommends asking:

Why am I being prescribed this medicine, and what are the benefits of using this medicine?
Are there any risks or side effects from using this medicine?
Are there any alternative treatments that I can try?
What should I do if I have any questions or concerns about the medicines that I use?
Will my use of this medicine be monitored so that the risks and benefits to me are re-assessed over time?

Prof Matthew Walters, head of medicine at Glasgow University, said: “There are some commonly-used medicines which have unwanted side effects, and in some cases, continuing to prescribe the medicine will cause more harm than good.

“It’s always helpful when a patient asks the prescriber for an explanation of the purpose of any new medicine being added to their prescription and whether the new medicine will interact with any of the drugs they’re currently taking.

“If patients experience any side effects of a new medicine, it’s important that they let the prescriber know so that an alternative way forward can be found.”