Mixing Foods and Medications: Interaction of Common Foods and Various Medicines - Additional Information

A technical computer glitch meant the October 2019 Health Notes were not in the WWURA Newsletter. They are included in November. Additional information/guidelines are added about cautions and benefits in using medications.

January 2019 the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) “unveiled its latest update to one of geriatrics’ most frequently cited reference tools: The AGS Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. With more than 90% of older people using at least one prescription and more than 66% using three or more in any given month,1 the AGS Beers Criteria®—a compendium of medications potentially to avoid or consider with caution because they often present an unfavorable balance of benefits and harms for older people—plays a vital role in helping health professionals, older adults, and caregivers work together to ensure medications are appropriate.” Beers Criteria® describe particular medications with evidence suggesting they should be:

• Avoided by most older people (outside of hospice and palliative care settings);
• Avoided by older people with specific health conditions;
• Avoided in combination with other treatments because of the risk for harmful “drug-drug” interactions;
• Used with caution because of the potential for harmful side effects;
• Dosed differently or avoided among people with reduced kidney function, which impacts how the body processes medicine.

Consider these five questions to ask about any new drug.

1. How and when do I take this drug?
2. What could the side effects be and how long should they last?
3. Can this new drug interact with those I am currently taking as well as with supplements?
4. How will I know if this medication is working and what is the time period to experience the effects?
5. Is there a need for follow-up and if so, how soon should I check with my doctor?