Seniors Can Often Simplify Prescriptions

Simple beats complicated, especially when it comes to a routine for taking prescription drugs. A new study finds that many seniors could simplify their routines — resulting in fewer forgotten doses — by talking to their physicians.

The study, published in Patient Education and Counseling, surveyed 200 seniors age 70 and older about their routine for taking medication and examined their prescriptions. The study found that 85 of the seniors could reduce the number of times per day they took medicine by at least once a day and 32 could reduce it by twice a day.

The reasons for over-complication, according to the study, included:

• concern about interactions with food and other prescriptions and
• not understanding prescription instructions.

The study recommends seniors talk to their doctors about how they take their medications, including when they take them and how many times per day.