Medications that have been taken without difficulty for years may begin to cause new health-related problems. The medications they took when they were younger may have problematic side effects as they get older, especially when combined with other medications or alcohol. The most common health problems caused by medications are confusion, memory loss, incontinence, urinary retention, nausea and loss of appetite, and frequent falls. According to Duxbury, the average elderly person takes seven medications a day. We have no idea what goes on in these people.
Confusion is one of the most common problems caused by a drug interaction.
Elderly people should be cautious when taking two particular kinds of medications. Shibayama adds that a medication taken for one problem can worsen another problem. Taken alone, many medications can cause confusion in the elderly. Taken in combination, medications can intensify the confusion. It is not normal to develop incredible confusion and hallucinations.