Your 80-year-old father visits a cardiologist for his heart, an endocrinologist for diabetes, and a rheumatologist for arthritis.
Each doctor prescribes 3-4 pills, unaware of what the others are prescribing.
The result? He is taking 15 pills every morning. He feels dizzy, confused, and tired all day.
You think it's just "old age." It's not. It's the drugs.
This phenomenon is called Polypharmacy, and it is a leading cause of falls and hospitalizations in seniors. The solution is a new medical movement called "Deprescribing."
Disclaimer: Never stop taking medication without consulting a doctor. Abrupt withdrawal can be dangerous. This guide is for educational purposes only.
Is Mom Taking 15 Pills a Day?
1. The Danger of the "Prescribing Cascade"
It starts innocently. You take a pill for blood pressure.
That pill causes ankle swelling (side effect).
Instead of stopping the first pill, the doctor prescribes a second pill (diuretic) to fix the swelling.
The diuretic makes you urinate often, so you get a third pill for bladder control.
This is the Prescribing Cascade. You are taking pills to treat the side effects of other pills.
2. The "Beers Criteria" (The Red Flag List)
The American Geriatrics Society publishes a list called the Beers Criteria. It lists medications that are generally unsafe for seniors because the risks outweigh the benefits.
🚫 Common Culprits to Watch
- Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax): High risk of falls, confusion, and car accidents. Often prescribed for anxiety or sleep.
- Anticholinergics (Benadryl, PM Sleep Aids): Can cause confusion, dry mouth, and constipation. Linked to dementia risk.
- PPIs (Nexium, Prilosec): Long-term use for acid reflux is linked to bone fractures and C. diff infection.
- NSAIDS (Advil, Aleve): High risk of stomach bleeding and kidney damage in seniors.
3. What Is "Deprescribing"?
Deprescribing is the planned and supervised process of reducing or stopping medications that may no longer be of benefit or may be causing harm.
Goal: To maintain quality of life with the minimum number of necessary drugs.
4. The "Brown Bag Review" Strategy
How do you fix this? You cannot just guess. You need a comprehensive review.
- Gather Everything: Take a brown paper bag. Put EVERYTHING your parent swallows in it. This includes prescription meds, OTC pills (Tylenol), vitamins, and herbal supplements.
- Book an Appointment: Schedule a visit with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) or a Geriatric Pharmacist specifically for a "Medication Review."
- Ask the Magic Question: For every single pill, ask: "Is this still necessary? Can we lower the dose? Is there a safer alternative?"
5. Warning Signs of Drug Overload
If your parent shows these symptoms, don't assume it's Alzheimer's or aging. Check their pillbox first.
- Sudden Dizziness or Falls: Often caused by blood pressure meds being too strong.
- Memory Loss / Fog: Caused by sleeping pills or anxiety meds.
- Loss of Appetite: Caused by multiple drugs interacting in the stomach.
Less Is Often More
In senior care, adding another pill is easy. Taking one away is hard but necessary.
Empower yourself. You are the advocate. By reducing the pill burden, you might find that "Grandma's dementia" was actually just "drug fog"—and get the real Grandma back.
Action Plan:
- Google "Beers Criteria 2025 PDF" and print it out.
- Compare it with your parent's medication list. Highlight any matches.
- Perform a "Brown Bag Review" at the next doctor's visit.
Helpful Resources:
Deprescribing.org: Resources for Patients
AGS Beers Criteria Official Guide
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