Is it just aging or is it my medication?
Medication safety is a top priority for pharmacists, and October is the perfect time to highlight it!
We love partnering with patients and clients to ensure safe medication use and positive health outcomes.
Last week, we talked about the dangers of polypharmacy.
But did you know your medications may need to change as you age—regardless of how many prescriptions you have?
Aging brings changes in:
🧠 Brain structure and memory
👀 Senses like vision, taste, and smell
⚡ Metabolism (how your body processes medications)
Since medications rely on your body’s metabolism to work effectively, these changes can substantially increase or decrease how well your prescriptions do their job.
Learn more about how aging affects drug metabolism from the National Institute on Aging and the FDA’s medication safety guide for older adults.
💊 A Real-Life Example: Penny’s Story
Penny thought when she started feeling constantly tired and unable to regulate her body temperature.
She wasn’t sick, and hot flashes were long behind her.
After finally talking with her doctor, some tests revealed her thyroid numbers had shifted. Her lifelong medication wasn’t being metabolized the same way anymore.
With just a slight adjustment to her dose, Penny was back to feeling like herself again.
The lesson? Even if you’ve been on a medication for years, your body can change—making regular medication reviews essential for safety and effectiveness.
📝 Quick Check: 3 Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Could my age-related changes affect how my medication works?
Do I need updated lab tests to check drug levels or organ function?
Are there safer or more effective alternatives at this stage of life?
Has it been a while since you reviewed your medications?
👉 Contact me today to make sure your prescriptions keep working well into the next chapter of your life.