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  • From: bobf <bobford79 AT yahoo.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Homestead] medication / supplement combos and danger
  • Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:19:37 -0800 (PST)

This article is in today's Washington Post and cerns not only danger with
mixing medications, but also supplements and over the counter meds. I have
had more than one of the reactions in the article myself (blood thinner,
aspirin, & something else, & the doc forgot to tell me, at first, to quit
taking niacin -- which I had taken for years-- when I started statins).
Soemone well educated on plants and supplements like Roxanne or Susan Jane
probably know all of this stuff, but it is hard for me to keep up with
allpossible interactions.........................

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Millions of older Americans use risky drug combos


By LINDSEY TANNER

The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 24, 2008; 6:24 AM

CHICAGO -- At least 2 million older Americans are taking a combination of
drugs or supplements that can be a risky mix _ from blood thinners and
cholesterol pills to aspirin and ginkgo capsules _ a new study warns.

Among older men, the numbers are particularly alarming _ one in 10 are taking
potentially harmful combinations, according to the study.

The results aren't always disastrous, but older people are more vulnerable to
side effects and drug-to-drug interactions. And patients need to know that
just because lots of medicines and supplements don't require prescriptions
doesn't mean they're harmless. Nor are some of these safe to take when you're
prescribed other medications.

Experts say the take-home advice is to ask about any side effects of
prescription drugs, and tell your doctor before taking other medicines.


The report showing just how many older people are using risky combinations
comes from a study of nearly 3,000 interviews with people aged 57 to 85. The
research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and University of
Chicago, appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

It's well-known that as people age, their medication use goes up. But the
study highlights the potential problems with some sobering statistics.

Ninety-one percent in this age group use at least one medication, often for
heart disease and related problems. That translates to more than 50 million
people. More than half use at least five remedies, including prescriptions,
over-the-counter medicines or supplements.

Virtually every medicine can have side effects, and with so many being used
by so many older adults, the potential for harm is high.

For example, warfarin, a potent prescription clot-fighting drug, was often
taken with aspirin. Both increase the risk of bleeding, so the odds are even
higher when both drugs are taken. The researchers said these risks also occur
when warfarin is taken with garlic pills, which some studies have suggested
can benefit the heart and help prevent blood clots.

Signs of bleeding problems include bruising easily, hard-to-stop bleeding
from the gums or from cuts and blood in the urine.

Other commonly used and risky combinations included:

_Aspirin taken with over-the-counter ginkgo supplements, increasing chances
for excess bleeding.

_Lisinopril, a blood pressure drug, taken with potassium, which combined can
cause abnormal heart rhythms. Potassium is often prescribed to restore low
levels of this important mineral caused by certain blood pressure drugs.

_Prescription cholesterol drugs called statins taken with over-the-counter
niacin, a type of vitamin B that also lowers cholesterol. This combination
increases risks for muscle damage.

"Patients need to know that while medications are often beneficial, they're
not always safe," said lead author Dima Qato, a University of Chicago
pharmacist. "If they need to self-medicate with over-the-counter or dietary
supplements, they should definitely consult with their physicians or
pharmacists."

The study relied on data from in-person interviews with 2,976 adults
questioned about which medications they routinely used. The nationally
representative survey was done between June 2005 and March 2006, and results
were extrapolated to the general population.

The researchers assessed how many people routinely used at least two
medications of any type known to have dangerous or even fatal interactions.
The number totaled at least one in 25, corresponding to 2.2 million
nationwide.


Those interviewed weren't asked if they'd ever had a bad reaction from taking
those combinations. And the study didn't assess whether patients were taking
medications inappropriately.

Dr. Jerry Gurwitz, chief of the geriatric medicine division at University of
Massachusetts Medical School, said taking multiple medications, despite
possible bad interactions, isn't necessarily a bad idea as long as patients
are in close contact with their doctor.

"There are definitely many instances where if they're monitored carefully and
there's good reason for using them, that they could be used safely," said
Gurwitz, who wasn't involved in the study.

Prescription drugs were the most commonly used and nearly one-third used at
least five prescription drugs.

Michael Cohen, a pharmacist and president of the Institute for Safe
Medication Practices, called the study an important snapshot of medication
use in older Americans. But as someone who takes at least five medications
himself, Cohen said the widespread prevalence isn't surprising.

Cohen said his group recently launched a new Web
site,http://www.consumermedsafety.orgthat will allow consumers to enter names
of their medications to check for any potentially dangerous interactions.






http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/24/AR2008122400608.html?hpid=sec-health







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