Many older people found to take too many medicines

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPSGB) has revealed that over 50% of people aged 65+ are taking five or more different types of medication – and are not always taking the prescribed dose. As well as the potent danger posed to the individual’s health by mixing medication, drugs that may no longer be required are being given on repeat prescription instead of being reviewed by GPs, wasting NHS money. Over £2 billion – half of the NHS’s total drugs spend – is spent on medication for older people every year. And worryingly, 60% of 500 older people interviewed in a RPSGB survey admitted suffering from side effects caused by their medication which they have not reported to their doctor. 20% said that they are not taking drugs as prescribed and one in seven take them at the wrong time of day. Taking drugs incorrectly or mixing medication can have grave consequences with 17% of hospital admissions resulting from adverse reactions to medication. And over 65s are three times more likely to suffer side effects such as falls, confusion and internal bleeding. The RPSGB is urging older people who take multiple medicines and have not had these reviewed recently to contact their GP or pharmacist as soon as possible to check whether their medication types and dosage are still appropriate for their needs.