What are common medication for the elderly?

What are common medication for the elderly?

Below are the top 10 medications prescribed to elderly Americans.

  • Hydrocodone. Hydrocodone, which is often blended with acetaminophen, is a pain medication often sold under the brand names Lorcet, Norco, and Vicodin.
  • Simvastatin.
  • Lisinopril.
  • Levothyroxine.
  • Amlodipine Besylate.
  • Omeprazole.
  • Azithromycin.
  • Metformin.

Which medication is often used in the elderly age bracket?

Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used by > 30% of people aged 65 to 89, and half of all NSAID prescriptions are for people > 60. Several NSAIDs are available without prescription.

What is the most commonly prescribed drug class for older adults?

Among U.S. adults aged 60–79, the most commonly used types of prescription drugs were lipid-lowering drugs (45.0%), antidiabetic agents (23.6%), beta blockers (for high blood pressure or heart disease, 22.3%), ACE inhibitors (21.3%), and proton pump inhibitors (16.9%).

What are 5 drugs to avoid in the elderly?

Here are 5 groups of drugs to avoid:

  • NSAIDs. (non-steroidal inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin can increase risk of stomach ulcers, blood pressure, heart failure and affect kidneys.
  • Antihistamines.
  • Sleeping aids.
  • Benzodiazepines.
  • Opioids.

What drugs help with dementia?

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors Donepezil (also known as Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Reminyl) are used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Which drug should be avoided in the elderly?

Those at higher risk include people more than 75 years old, people taking oral steroids, and people taking a blood-thinning medication such as apixaban (Eliquis), aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dabigatran (Pradaxa), edoxaban (Savaysa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), or warfarin (Coumadin).

What are the most frequently prescribed drugs?

The 25 most frequently prescribed drugs

Rank Drug name Commonly prescribed for
1 Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Pain Relief
2 Hydrochlorothiazide High Blood Pressure
3 Atorvastatin Calcium Cholesterol
4 Ventolin Asthma

What must be on an OTC label?

OTC Drug Facts Label

  • The product’s active ingredients, including the amount in each dosage unit.
  • The purpose of the product.
  • The uses (indications) for the product.
  • Specific warnings, including when the product should not be used under any circumstances, and when it is appropriate to consult with a doctor or pharmacist.

Which drug should be avoided in elderly?

AVOID products that contain the antihistamines diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (AllerChlor, Chlor-Trimeton). These medications are often included in OTC remedies for coughs, colds, and allergies. AVOID OTC sleep products, like Tylenol PM, which contain antihistamines such as diphenhydramine.