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Article: Among older adults, prescription and over-the-counter medications are commonly used together.(Survey)
- Article from:
- NewsRx Health & Science
- Article date:
- January 11, 2009
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A survey suggests that nearly half of older adults in the U.S. use prescription and over-the-counter medications together, and that about 4 percent of older adults are potentially at risk of an adverse drug reaction because of an interaction between medications, according to a study in the December 24/31 issue of JAMA. The researchers also found that nearly 30 percent use at least 5 prescription medications.
Rates of prescription medication use have increased considerably over the last several decades, as have the rates of use of over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements. Older adults are the largest per capita consumers of prescription medications and ...