CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Introduction

1. Overview
2. Alcohol
3. Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications
4. Barriers to Recognizing Problems
5. Signs and Symptoms of Misuse
6. Talking About Sensitive Issues
7. Assessing a Problem
8. Preventing Misuse
9. Intervention and Treatment

Supplements
Resources

Alcohol, Medication and Older Adults
For Those Who Care About or Care for an Older Adult

Module Content Introduction General Prevention Tips Talk to the Doctor Medication Management Tools Managing Multiple Medicines Medication Management Tools Summary

Talk to the Doctor

Talking to the doctor about concerns can prevent medication misuse. Discussing medications and understanding the way the medicines are to be taken and why helps avoid misunderstanding. It also allows older adults to take more control over their health.

Older adults may be uncomfortable in an active role with their doctor. They may tend to accept what the doctor recommends without asking many questions. Assumptions then replace facts, feelings, and the real need for information and understanding.

Family members and caregivers can help by:

• Encouraging older adults to be active participants in their health care whenever possible
• Learning about the medicines prescribed and reviewing information with older adults
• Accompanying older adults to doctor visits to hear, read, and interpret or translate information, if needed
• Reinforcing information with older adults after the visit
• Reminding older adults what information to share with the doctor
• Reminding older adults to ask questions of the doctor and pharmacist about the medicines prescribed

Information To Share With the Doctor

In some cultures, it is not acceptable to volunteer personal information. These individuals may find it difficult to communicate with a health care professional. However, many older patients need to coordinate their care among multiple providers. It is important, therefore, to assist older persons who may feel overwhelmed by this responsibility.

A mutual exchange of information between patient and provider is important. Accurate diagnosis and prescribing of medication depend on comprehensive information about the patient's current condition and medical history. Health care providers should know about:

• All symptoms, including those that may have been caused by medications
• Any chronic physical ailments
• All drugs used, including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, herbals, alcohol, and any illicit drugs such as cocaine or marijuana
• Allergic reactions and sensitivities experienced from medications
• Other physicians providing treatment to the older adult patient

Talk to the Pharmacist

The pharmacist is also a good source of information about medicines. Pharmacists are the experts on drug interactions and side effects. Pharmacists can review information on prescription and over-the-counter drugs. They know the health effects of misuse of prescription drugs. Pharmacists can print out a list of all the medicines you are taking to bring to the doctor.

Questions To Ask a Doctor or Pharmacist

Questions a patient or a caregiver accompanying the patient should ask include:

• What is the name of the drug I have been prescribed?
• Is there a generic form of the drug? What is it called?
• Why am I taking it?
• What are the side effects? Which should be reported immediately?
• How often should I take the medication?
• How much do I take?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• When should I take the drug?
  What time of day? Do I have to wake up in the middle of the night to take a dose?
• When can I stop taking this drug?
• Are there any special precautions I should be aware of? (Such as taking with or without food). Specifically ask, "Can I drink alcoholic beverages with this medicine?"
• May I drive while taking this drug?
• Will this drug interact with any other prescription or over-the-counter medications I am taking?
  

You may want to print out these questions to take to the doctor or pharmacist.

A printable version (PDF) is available.
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