Use of multiple brain-affecting drugs is rising among seniors, despite risks, research finds
The sharpest rise occurred in seniors living in rural areas, where the rate of doctor visits by seniors taking combinations of such drugs -- opioids, antidepressants , tranquilizers and antipsychotics -- more than tripled. This "polypharmacy" of drugs that act on the central nervous system is concerning, the researchers say, because of the special risks to older adults that come with combining multiple such medications. Falls -- and the injuries that can result from them -- are the chief concern, along with problems with driving, memory and thinking. Combining opioid painkillers with certain other brain-affecting drugs such as benzodiazepine tranquilizers is of particular concern, recently receiving the strongest possible warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to an increased risk of death from combined use. Publishing in JAMA Internal Medicine , the team from the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System reports findings from their an...