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22 | September 21, 2017 | The New Lenox Patriot Life & ARts
newlenoxpatriot.com
TRIAD TALK FOR SENIORS
Relationship with medicine as he or she ages
Kathie Johnson
Director of Family Services for
New Lenox Township
As you get older,
you may be faced
with more health
conditions that you need
to treat on a regular basis.
It is important to be
aware that more use of
medicines and normal body
changes caused by aging
can increase the chance of
unwanted or maybe even
harmful drug interactions.
The more you know about
your medicines and the
more you talk with your
health care professionals,
the easier it is to avoid problems
with medicines.
As you get older, 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
circulatory 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. Because of these body
changes, there is also a bigger
risk of drug interactions
among older adults.
Therefore, it is important
to know about drug interactions
with:
• Other prescribed
medicines you are currently
taking.
• Over the counter
medications, dietary supplements,
vitamins, herbals that
you are currently taking
• Food and alcohol interactions.
What are the side effects?
Side effects are unplanned
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symptoms or feelings you
have when taking a medicine.
Most side effects are
not serious; others can be
more bothersome and even
serious. To help prevent
possible problems with
medicines, seniors must
know about the medicine
they take and how it makes
them feel.
Talk to your health care
professionals
It is important to go to all
your medical appointments
and to talk to your team of
health care professionals
(doctors, pharmacists, nurses,
or physician assistants)
about your medical conditions,
the medicines you
take, and any health concerns
you have. It may help
to make a list of comments,
questions, or concerns
before your visit or call to
a health care professional.
Also, think about having
a close friend or relative
come to your appointment
with you if you are unsure
about talking to your health
care professional or would
like someone to help you
understand and remember
answers to your questions.
Here are some other
things to keep in mind when
you are going to speak to
your doctor:
• Always bring an updated
list of ALL your current medicines.
List all prescription
and OTC medicines, dietary
supplements, vitamins, and
herbals you take. This list
should show name of drug,
strength, dose, and why you
are taking the medication.
Ask your doctor for his list of
medication schedule. Using
this information you can
compare with what you have.
• All doctors should have
your current written medical
history. Keep a written list
of your health conditions
that you can easily share
with your doctors. Your
primary care doctor should
also know about any specialist
doctors you may see
on a regular basis.
•Bring an advocate with
you. This person could
be a relative, a friend or
care-giver. Bring that list
of questions, concerns and
problems that you have.
Your advocate can make
sure these subjects are
discussed with your doctor.
The advocate can even take
notes for you so you can
concentrate on your discussion
with your doctor.
•Tell your doctor if you
are worried about the cost of
your medicine. Your doctor
may not know how much
your prescription costs,
but may be able to tell you
about another less expensive
medicine, such as a generic
drug or OTC product.
• Talk to your pharmacist.
One of the most important
services a pharmacist can
offer is to speak to you
about your medicines. Your
pharmacist can help you
understand how and when
to take your medicines,
what side affects you might
experience or what interactions
may occur.
Here are some other ways
your pharmacist can help:
• Many pharmacists keep
track of medicines on their
computer. If you buy your
medicines at one store and
tell your pharmacist all the
OTC and prescription medicines
or dietary supplements
you take, your pharmacist
can help make sure your
medicines don’t interact
harmfully with one another.
• Ask your pharmacist
to place your prescription
medicines in easy-to-open
containers if you have a
hard time taking off childproof
caps and do not have
young children living in or
visiting your home. Remember
to keep all medicines
out of the sight and
reach of children.
• Your pharmacist may be
able to print labels on prescription
medicine containers
in larger type, if reading
the medicine label is hard
for you.
There are many more
steps you can take to becoming
a smarter consumer
and a healthier person. One
way you can help yourself
is to attend the Manhattan-
New Lenox TRIAD meeting
on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the
New Lenox Police Station,
200 Veterans Blvd., New
Lenox. The guest speaker
for our September TRIAD
meeting is Heather Carlton,
from the Pharmacy Department
of Jewel-Osco on
Nelson Road in New Lenox.
Heather will be there to
discuss medication safety
and other topics for older
Americans. The Pharmacy
Department of Jewel-Osco
will also be offering vaccinations.
If you are interested
in receiving a vaccine,
you may plan to arrive early
the day of the meeting or
stay after the meeting to
receive one.
Note: Please bring your
Medicare Card or your
insurance card with you.
The Manhattan-New Lenox
TRIAD is a non-profit organization
from Will County and
New Lenox Police Departments
and several other organizations
from each community. All
are welcome. No membership
or costs. Any questions? Call
Kathie Johnson at New Lenox
Township, (815) 717-6221.