A Maryland woman was hospitalized for a particularly bad asthma attack.  She had stopped using her inhaler when it caused nausea.  While in the hospital, she was given steroids to treat her asthma.  Because the steroids raised her blood pressure she was given an antihypertensive drug. 

She was prescribed a diuretic when her ankles swelled, but her potassium level dropped so potassium supplements were added.  She was also given an osteoporosis drug.  That made her stomach bleed.  She left the hospital sicker than when she went in.

Prescription drugs can save lives, but few are free of the side effects.  In fact, the more drugs you take, the greater the risk of interactions.  If you take six different drugs (including over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements) you have an 80% chance of at least one drug interaction.   With eight drugs the chance is 100%, according to Wayne K. Anderson, dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Excess prescriptions not only take a financial toll for the cost of the drugs, but according to some estimates, as many as one-fourth of all nursing home admissions and an even higher percentage of hospitalizations may be due to adverse drug reactions or inappropriate medications.  Reducing the number of drugs you are taking could not only save you money on prescriptions, but could save you money in terms of unscheduled doctor and emergency room visits.

This DOES NOT mean that you should arbitrarily stop taking your medications.  What you should do is have a "drug check-up" with your primary care physician.  Before going, gather all medications that you are taking or likely to take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter products and supplements.  Take them with you.  Review each of your prescriptions and find out whether you really need them.

In the case of our Maryland woman she pared her daily drug regimen to just two asthma inhalers, a diuretic, and a new blood pressure drug that doesn't make her dizzy.  Instead of taking potassium pills she just eats bananas.  Doing so cut her drug bill from about $250 to $60 per month and instead of having to rely on her daughter to take care of her, she is now self-sufficient. 

Source: "Kicking the Overmedication Habit," Miriam E. Tucker, The Washington Post, February 6, 2001.

For another tip on how to save on prescription drugs click here to read, "Your Doctor Can Help You Save Money on Your Prescription" 
http://www.tscl.org/newcontent/100949.asp.

October 2001