How to Help Your Elderly Parent Avoid Abusing Prescription Drugs
Many of us with elderly parents know it’s sometimes difficult to discuss, or even broach, certain subjects. There are times when it’s good to avoid saying things we know may cause them distress, but there are also times when it’s absolutely critical that we have a discussion about a particular topic. One of these topics concerns abuse of prescription drugs.
Statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reveal that persons aged 65 and older represent only 13 percent of the U.S. population. Yet they account for approximately one-third of all the medications prescribed in this country. The potential for abuse of these prescription drugs among the elderly is very high.
Not Me
The first thing you’ll probably hear is your parent stressing in no uncertain terms that they don’t abuse prescription drugs. They know every pill they take and certainly wouldn’t just take them without having to. They need their pills. After all, the doctor prescribed them. Recognize that you’ll face strong resistance if you confront your parent outright about overusing their prescribed medications. A better way to handle it is the indirect approach.
Do an Inventory of all Medications
You can call this whatever works for you but the simple fact is that you need to take an accounting of all the medications your parent or parents take. If both your elderly parents take medications, and chances are they do, you’ll need to make separate lists. Write down the name of the medication, the manufacturer, strength, dosage and any contra-indications mentioned on the container. Also write down the prescribing doctor’s name and phone number and if there are different pharmacies used, include that as well. Don’t forget to include all nonprescription over-the-counter drugs and vitamins and herbs. Many of these have contraindications when taken in combination with prescription drugs.
Research the Medications
Once you have the list(s), research the medications online. What you’re looking for is specific mention of side effects, long-term consequences, addiction potential, any recalls or negative mentions. A good resource is the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Prescription drug abuse among the elderly, states the NIDA, is a growing problem in America due to the fact that this population takes more medications than their younger counterparts. With a variety of illnesses and conditions, physicians prescribe painkillers (opioids), central nervous system depressants, and stimulants to a dizzying extent. All of these medications have the potential for drug dependence and addition. Add to this the fact that the medications are also available over the Internet and the problem compounds. Some Internet “pharmacies” even dispense these medications without a doctor’s prescription.
Make notations on drugs that have negative effects when they are taken with other drugs and/or alcohol. These are the particularly worrisome drugs, as they can prove lethal or lead to serious psychological and/or physiological conditions.
Discuss with your Parents
Based upon what you’ve learned about the dangers of combining certain drugs, or the warnings attendant on prolonged use, discuss these concerns with your parents. Use a calm and loving voice and don’t be threatening or chastising. After all, these are your parents and they need to be treated with dignity and respect. What they may not realize, especially after taking prescribed medications and renewing them for years, is that they may not need them any longer, or that there are sound reasons why they shouldn’t take certain medications at the same time. End the discussion with an action plan. Tell your parent you want to make an appointment with their primary doctor, and you’ll go with them on the visit.
Accompany your Parent to the Doctor
Take the list of all the medications your parents have been taking, and go over all of them with the doctor to ensure their medical necessity (or lack of). See if some of the medications can be eliminated. Keep in mind that our parents have probably been to several doctors and specialists over the years, and prescriptions will have come from a number of sources. You parents’ primary doctor may not have been the one to prescribe them, and he or she may need to consult with the prescribing doctor in order to safely recommend discontinuing the medication. The end result you’re looking for is a reduction in the overall prescription medicines your parents take. It may be a while before this can be accomplished, but the results will be worth it – not only for your parents’ health, but for your overall peace of mind as well.
Prepare a Schedule for Weaning Off
Your parents’ doctor will provide instructions on how/when to wean off particular medications on the list. This is very important since sudden discontinuation of a medication your parent has been taking for a long time can have serious, even life-threatening consequences.
Buy a Pill Organizer
Another tip is to help your parents safely manage their prescription drug intake is with a pill organizer. Allocate the medications they must take on a daily basis (and keep those that are only occasionally taken out of the organizer completely). If rarely taken, lock up the medications. Access is sometimes as great a contributor as accidentally taking too much medication. If all the pill containers are sitting on a shelf, it’s too easy to just take one from here and one from there and all the way down the line.
Monitor Progress
As days and weeks go by, monitor your parents’ progress in responsible pill taking. Carefully assess whether they’re feeling confident in their new-found ability to conscientiously manage their medication intake. If your parent has a condition that makes this impossible, such as Alzheimer’s, is bedridden or has another impairment that clouds judgment, make arrangements for the other parent or a caregiver to enforce the medication schedule and monitor progress.
Celebrate Accomplishment
We all like to feel we’ve achieved a particularly difficult accomplishment. The same holds true with our elderly parents. Take time to celebrate their progress in weaning off or responsibly managing their prescription medications. This shows your parents you love and respect them – and makes them feel more confident in their own abilities as well.
