Elderly Parents near Rancho Bernardo Could Experience Adverse Reactions

Harmful interactions between medications create a very complex problem for elderly parents near Rancho Bernardo. Doctors must check up with patients regularly after prescribing new drugs to spot any conflicts before they cause injury. After analyzing the results of a study focused on seniors, researchers have warned the medical community that statins (which lower cholesterol) commonly conflict with certain popular antibiotics.

Which Medications are Involved?

The most common statins are better known by their brand names: Lipitor, Zocor, Altoprev, and Mevacor. All of these drugs lower cholesterol, which is important for the health of many seniors. The study showed that some antibiotics (clarithromycin and erythromycin) have a relatively high probability of reacting adversely with statins. The main danger is an increased risk of damage to the kidneys if both a statin and one of the two antibiotics are in the body at the same time.

What to Do

According to the study’s recommendations, doctors should keep an eye out for statin use by patients and avoid prescribing clarithromycin or erythromycin. You can help by making sure that your elderly loved one’s doctor knows exactly what medications they are on—if you can’t accompany them to a doctor’s appointment, provide a clear list of current and even past prescriptions that they can take with them.

Prescriptions and Elderly Parents in San Diego County

Drugs do a great deal to guard the health of many elderly parents in San Diego County. Staying aware of potential problems like the one between statins and some antibiotics can help you communicate with your senior’s doctor and avoid difficulties before they arise. And always remember that maintaining a consistent prescription schedule is critical for the drugs’ effectiveness. Like all types of medicine, they only work if you take them!

Originally posted 2013-07-02 10:30:44.