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Drugs & Medications
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Drugs & Medications
Just for the sake of clarity, "Drugs and Medications" includes prescription and over-the-counter medications sold legally in the United States. Medications may be contributing to keeping our seniors alive and feeling better than they otherwise would. Medications could also be contributing to unpleasant side effects and behaviors. We spend time in this department talking about some of the ins and outs of medication.
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Medicare Covers Diabetic Supplies - But It's Not Automatic
Several years back when Charlie Adams was first diagnosed with Diabetes, he learned to use special equipment and suplies to regularly test his blood sugar. As the cost of living has increased, and Charlie's pension has stayed more or less the same, the supplies necessary for living well with diabetes are beginning to cost him more per month than he can now afford. Recently Charlie cut back to testing his blood just twice a day instead of the four times his doctor wants him to check . . . keep reading
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When Seniors Combine Drugs and Alcohol
Because the elderly in general use more medications than younger people, they are significantly more apt to experience drug side effects. When alcohol is added into the mix, the potential for adverse reactions can increase geometrically. Whether someone enjoys an occasional cocktail or drinks alcohol frequently, it's important to know how alcohol will affect both over the counter and prescription medications . . . keep reading
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FDA Slaps Aricept Ads
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently chastized two television commercials for Aricept, the most popular medication for Alzheimer's Disease, as "misleading," "deceptive," and "not supported by the available research data." . . . keep reading
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Medications and Conditions That Increase the Risk of Frostbite
When the body is exposed to cold, the blood vessels close to the skin begin to narrow in order to preserve core body temperature. While this is perfectly normal, people with the following medical conditions, or who are taking the following medications, have a much higher risk of frostbite. You should be particularly alert to the signs of frostbite in seniors who . . . keep reading
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Generic Drugs: A Layman's Guide
Close to one of every two brand name prescriptions on the market today have a generic equivalent, and many of these generic medications are up to 80% less expensive than their brand name equivalent. When a generic equivalent is available, many insurance companies will cover it, but they will either refuse to pay for the patented and trademarked medication, or they will do so only at a much higher cost to the patient. . . . keep reading
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Clinical Trials
At any particular moment there are over 80,000 clinical trials occurring across the country and around the world. Choosing whether or not to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision. The following information may be helpful when deciding whether to look into participating as a volunteer in a clinical trial . . . keep reading
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The Not-So-Tasty Medicare Donut Hole
It's a shame that something as tasty as a donut is now associated with something as untasty as the Medicare donut hole, a financial maze if ever there were one. Here's a quick explanation of how it works (today) and some strategies to help if you find you're falling into it . . . keep reading
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Drugs Not Recommended For Seniors - The Beers List
In 1991, after years of research, a geriatric physician by the name of Mark Beers published a list of medications that were most likely to cause serious side effects when used by elderly patients. The list below, now known as the "Beers List" or the "Beers Criteria," has been adopted by physicians and pharmacists as the authoritative list of drugs determined to be potentially inappropriate for seniors . . . keep reading
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Shingles - An Ounce of Prevention
When Mary Ann came down with Shingles she didn't realize what was happening for several days. By the time she saw her doctor she was in severe pain and it was too late for the available treatment to do her much good. She was in severe pain for weeks, and she still feels the kind of residual pain called postherpetic neuralgia which may never go completely away . . . keep reading
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They May Have Found a Cure!
This week we received several news reports that a cure may have been found for Alzheimer's Disease. Mice, they report, developed better memories and quicker thinking on the equivalent of five cups of coffee a day . . . keep reading
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Free Medicine
Hannah Louise needs to take several medications on a regular basis. Her full-time job doesn't include health insurance. Paying for her prescriptions has become impossible on her salary, so now she's trying to decide which ones she can cut out and still stay healthy enough to work and help take care of her mother, Magdalena. . . . keep reading
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Dementia Medications: Caregivers May Have A Real Dilemma
For some time professional senior caregivers have "known," without much research to back them up, that the drugs we currently use to treat dementia symptoms can have some serious repercussions. Now there is research evidence that draws the same conclusion and adds some new concerns. Not every patient will experience serious side effects from these medications, but enough do that we should seriously explore the potential negtives as well as the positives before giving them to our elders. . . . keep reading
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A Senior's Drugs: When the Cure is Worse Than the Disease
When Norma Bartlett fell for the third time in the same week, this time painfully injuring her wrist and sustaining several deep bruises, her daughter Jennifer Weekly finally insisted her mother see the doctor. After putting Mrs. Bartlett's fractured wrist in a cast and giving her a prescription for pain, her doctor suggested that Mrs. Bartlett see a neurologist to be evaluated for possible Parkinson's disease. The next morning, Mrs. Bartlett fell again. She was admitted to the hospital confused and combative. . . . keep reading
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Comparing Medicare Part D Plans
Comparing plan changes can be complicated and confusing. It's hard to compare one plan to another without creating a complex spread sheet, and who has the time for that? I've found a free tool that seems to be a little easier to use to compare the price structure of available plans. Theis tool shows us a side-by-side comparison of 2008 and 2009 premiums, as well as any changes in co-payments / co-insurance rates. . . . keep reading
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A System For Medications
The older we get, the more medications we're likely to take. Keeping track of when to take what medication can be a full time job for some of our seniors. Imagine keeping track of six or seven medications (or more), all to be taken at different times throughout the day. It's enough to make anyone's head spin. . . . keep reading
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Alzheimers Disease
