Managing Your Medications
As you age, it is important to know about your medicines to avoid possible problems. You may be faced with more health conditions that you need to treat on a regular basis. It is important to be aware that the use of more medications, along with normal body changes caused by aging, can increase the chance of unwanted or maybe even harmful drug interactions.
As you age, body changes can affect the way medicines are absorbed and used. For example, changes in the digestive system can affect how fast medicines enter the bloodstream. Changes in body weight can influence the amount of medicine you need to take and how long it stays in your body. The circulation system may slow down, which can affect how fast drugs get to the liver and kidneys. The liver and kidneys also may work more slowly, affecting the way a drug breaks down and is removed from the body. The more you know about your medications, the easier it is to avoid these potential problems. Your pharmacist can be a great resource here. Stop by – and bring your questions.
–Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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