The Key To Taking As Few Medications As Possible

KYW's Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As physicians we try to do our best for our elderly patients and in many cases when faced with patients with multiple health problems we prescribe numerous medications, especially heart medications to fight problems like high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke.

But experts are reporting more and more that we need to be more thoughtful about using as few drugs as possible. The average number of chronic medications prescribed for elderly patients range from 6.8 to 7.5, and it usually takes 11 separate doses to take them.

There are key issues. The first is many elderly people are on a fixed income. The second is many people get confused and take the wrong drugs and then have to deal with numerous side effects.