Commonly, drug withdrawal events may occur with digoxin, furosemide and psychotropic medications. Drug-disease interactions are not uncommon. Ventricular arrhythmias may occur in patients with ischemic heart disease who are receiving tricyclic antidepressants or phenothiazines. Polypharmacy And Adverse Effects With multiple disease processes come multiple pharmaceutical interventions. These may enhance the older adult's well-being and general health, improving function and increasing longevity.
Incidence is a direct correlation with the number of drugs prescribed.
Resisting the temptation to treat every symptom with a medication is important. For instance, insomnia can be addressed through a variety of methods, including evening back rubs, soft music, a cup of warm milk, etc. Resorting to sedation with diphenhydramine or benzodiazepines should be avoided if at all possible. CNS side-effects as well as falls are common in elderly patients using these medications. This will provide an opportunity to instruct the patient in appropriate usage and of the risks involved if any.