On the path to improved wellness, your doctor may prescribe certain drugs to help maintain your health. But all the different types of prescriptions can be hard to understand and remember. In this guide, we’ll review the most commonly prescribed drugs for older adults, why these are the most common medications for elderly, how to keep an eye out for side effects, and how to use GoGoGrandparent for medication adherence and prescription delivery.
Regular checkups are the foundation for senior health
Although this guide will discuss the most commonly prescribed drugs for older adults, it’s essential to remember that everyone’s health plan is unique. Seek advice from your primary care doctor and any specialist doctors before starting or stopping medications. Your doctor will help tailor your treatment plans based on your specific health conditions, allergies, and potential interactions with other medicines you take.
Whether or not you are currently on prescription medications, you should schedule regular appointments with your primary care doctor. These checkups help monitor your health, detect early health conditions, discuss new symptoms, and evaluate the effectiveness of current or new medications. Read our 12 tips for having a productive doctor’s appointment to ensure you’re asking the right questions at these checkups.
Get to your doctor’s appointments safely and reliably with GoGoRides. You don’t need a smartphone to ride with us. You can order call our operators to request a ride, and our GoGoGuardians will match you with a vetted, professional driver who meets your accessibility needs. Learn more about our rides services here.
Common medications for elderly side effects
Medications can have a variety of side effects ranging from mild to severe. You should be aware of potential side effects associated with your prescribed medications. Promptly communicate any new or worsening conditions or symptoms to your doctor, so your physician can adjust your medications accordingly.
Medications and driving safety
Many of the most common medications for elderly have the side effects of drowsiness and impaired cognitive function. These side effects make driving unsafe for you and others on the road. Talk to your doctor about whether you should consider finding alternatives to driving based on your medication list.
Many GoGoGrandparent clients use our reliable Rides service as a safe and convenient alternative to driving while taking these sorts of fatigue-inducing common medications for elderly. With GoGoRides, you have 24/7 access to transportation wherever you want to go. All you need to do is dial our telephone line and book a ride with one of our friendly operators. Learn more about how to book a ride here.
The importance of medication adherence
Medication adherence is critical to managing your conditions. You should take all medicines as prescribed to ensure they work effectively and with minimal side effects. Skipping or altering doses can lead to ineffective management of health conditions like side effects, complications, and return or worsening of chronic conditions.
Always have your prescriptions on hand with GoGo’s prescription delivery. Forgot to pick up your meds? Don’t feel like leaving the house? GoGo can arrange prescription delivery right to your door, so you can adhere to your medication schedule without even leaving the house. Behind the scenes, our GoGoGuardians monitor, screen, and track your delivery so you can feel confident that your prescriptions are getting to you safely and quickly.
Check out these 13 tips for medication adherence to learn more about the importance of medication adherence.
Ten most commonly prescribed drugs for older adults
According to the CDC, the most common medications for elderly (aged 60-79) in the U.S. are lipid-lowering drugs, antidiabetic agents, and beta blockers. Sleep aids and antidepressants are also among the most commonly prescribed drugs for older adults.
1. Statins
Statins (also called lipid-lowering drugs) help lower cholesterol, in turn reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Statins slow the liver’s production of cholesterol and increase the liver’s ability to process the LDL (“bad”) cholesterol already circulating in the blood. There are some concerns about going on and off statins, so it’s critical to keep up with regular doctor’s visits and medication adherence plans when on a statin regimen.
2. Beta blockers
Beta blockers are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs for older adults because of the high rate of cardiovascular disease in elderly populations. Beta blockers help manage heart-related conditions like arrhythmia and hypertension (high blood pressure). They’re also used to protect the heart from a second heart attack after suffering an initial attack. If you’ve been prescribed beta blockers, it’s essential to follow your doctor’s orders carefully to ensure you maintain the health of your heart.
3. Antidiabetic medications
The American Diabetes Association reports that 29.2% of Americans age 65 and older have diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not make enough insulin or respond effectively to insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels. Diabetes can have a lot of severe issues if not treated, which is why antidiabetic medications are used so prevalently. The six most commonly prescribed drugs for older adults with diabetes are alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, sulfonylureas, insulin secretagogues, Glucophage, and thiazolidinediones.
4. Sleep aids
Sleep is a critical part of physical and mental health, and good sleep has dramatically positive effects on overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for seniors to suffer from insomnia and sleep disturbances. Studies show that 1 in 3 older adults take something to help them sleep. Prescription sleep aids are common medications for elderly looking to improve their sleep quality and quantity.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, you may also want to implement a daily exercise routine. Regular physical activity promotes better sleep quality, decreases stress and anxiety, and releases endorphins that help with relaxation. Try these 7 daily exercises at home, or give daily yoga a shot.
5. Antidepressants
Many seniors deal with depression and anxiety regularly, which is why antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for older adults. Antidepressants can help improve mental wellbeing – and mental health significantly impacts overall health and wellness. Have an open line of communication with your doctor about your emotional and mental state before and during treatment so they can ensure you’re getting the best antidepressant treatment plan for you.
Many seniors find that getting out of the house and socializing can help ease symptoms of depression. GoGoGrandparent’s Rides services give you freedom of movement to visit your friends, go to the gym, attend local classes, hit the grocery store, and get out into your local community. We arrange reliable rides 24/7 – safeguarded by our GoGoGuardians – so you can get out of the house whenever and wherever you want.
Common medications for elderly
Prioritize your health by adhering to medication regimens, attending regular doctor’s checkups with GoGo Rides, and understanding the potential side effects of the most commonly prescribed drugs for older adults. With GoGoGrandparent’s prescription delivery, you can ensure you always have your medications on-hand so you never miss a dose. Informed decisions and proactive healthcare management will significantly improve your quality of life. By prioritizing your health and leveraging GoGoGrandparent’s unique, reliable services, you’re sure to lead your healthiest, happiest, most fulfilling life. Register for GoGoGrandparent now to get access to prescription delivery services today.
