How can I identify dangerous drugs?
First, let's talk about the reliability of scientific data.
If you're not used to looking at data, it can be difficult to figure out, “What information should I believe? If you're not used to looking at data, it can be difficult to figure out which information to believe.
In particular, studies on drugs and supplements often have conflicting results, and there are few safety tests for middle-aged and older people to begin with.
Is there nothing we can do about it?
Of course, that's not true.
Fortunately, some clear standards have been established on the question, “What drugs are dangerous to take? Fortunately, some clear standards have been established on the issue of “what kind of medicine is dangerous to take?
That's the “Beers List”.
This list was created by Dr. Mark Beers in the US in 1991.
Dr. Beers, who had long been troubled by the number of medication problems among his elderly patients, checked a large amount of data available at the time and compiled a list of “dangerous drugs to take.
The list has since been passed on to the next generation of doctors, and is still being updated regularly to incorporate the latest data.
While there is little data available for middle-aged and elderly people, this is the best data possible and is the most reliable list available at the moment.
the American Geriatrics Society (2015)Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel.(2005)American Geriatrics Society 2015 Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.
So, let's now check out the drugs that cause the most damage to the body, referring to the latest version of the Beers List.
Please refer to this page while checking the medication you are using.
9 types of drugs that shorten life span
The “Beers List” lists a large number of drugs that tend to have significant side effects in middle-aged and elderly people.
For starters, let's pick out the nine most common types of drugs among them.
The older you get, the more likely you are to experience dangerous side effects from any of these drugs, but it is impossible to say for sure at what age they are safe. However, it is impossible to say for sure at what age they are safe, as it depends on the individual.
In any case, if you don't have to use it, it's probably a good idea.
It may be difficult to stop all medications completely, but if you are using any of the applicable medications, please consider reducing your dosage after consulting with your doctor or pharmacist.
NSAIDs
NSAIDs stand for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and they work to stop pain and reduce fever.
You may not be familiar with these words, but ingredients such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and indomethacin may sound familiar to you.
These are all members of the NSAIDs family.
The drawback of NSAIDs is that they tend to be easily used as painkillers.
I tend to abuse it because it relieves light-headedness and joint pain.
However, NSAIDs are very hard on the digestive system and often cause indigestion, ulcers, and bleeding from the stomach and intestines.
In addition, there are many cases of kidney damage as well as side effects of increased blood pressure, so long-term use should be avoided.
If you really need NSAIDs, at least use ibuprofen or salsalate for a few days, or choose naproxen.
Naproxen, in particular, was reported by Harvard Medical School in 2014 to be the “lowest-risk” NSAID, making it the best choice for NSAIDs.
Harvard Heart Letter(2014)Pain relief that's safe for your heart
muscle-relaxant drug
Muscle relaxants, as the name implies, are drugs that relieve muscle tension.
The ingredients include methocarbamol, cyclobenzaprine, and oxybutynin.
It is often used for headaches, stiff shoulders and numbness caused by tension.
However, since muscle relaxants act on the nerves of the brain to loosen muscles, they inevitably have the side effect of making it difficult to think properly.
In the younger generation, the symptoms may be as simple as “my head feels fuzzy,” but in the older generation, it can cause falls or even confusion in severe cases.
Furthermore, the problem with muscle relaxants is that there is no evidence that they work properly for pain and numbness in the first place.
If you're not careful, you may only have side effects after taking it.
Consider abstaining from medication as much as possible.
Anxiolytics and sleeping pills
As more and more people become mentally unstable or have trouble sleeping well after middle age, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills are often prescribed.
The ingredients include diazepam and chlordiazepoxide.
The older you get, the slower your body processes these drugs, and the more likely it is that you will experience side effects.
Side effects include clouding of consciousness, falls, and increased forgetfulness.
If the medication cannot be discontinued, ask your doctor if it can be changed to an SSRI (such as fluvoxamine or paroxetine) with fewer side effects.
anticholinergic drug
Anticholinergic drugs are a general term for drugs that suppress the action of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.
It is used for a very wide range of conditions, from incurable diseases such as Parkinson's disease to stomach aches, motion sickness, and allergy control.
However, since anticholinergic drugs act on the nervous system of the brain, they have recently been found to have significant side effects.
While constipation and dry mouth are the most common mild symptoms, the risk of dementia is the most frightening.
According to a large study conducted in 2015, the incidence of dementia increased by a whopping 1.5 times when people over the age of 65 took anticholinergic drugs for about three years in a row.
If you were using multiple anticholinergic drugs at the same time, the risk is even higher.
Gray SL, et al. (2015)Cumulative use of strong anticholinergics and incident dementia: a prospective cohort study.
The anticholinergic drugs named in the study included antihistamines commonly used for colds and allergies, anti-dizziness drugs, and anti-depressants.
It is not clear at what age this side effect appears, and the data is not that reliable, but in any case, long-term use should be stopped.
Heart-strengthening drugs (cardiac glycosides)
Strong cardiac glycosides are drugs used to treat heart failure and arrhythmias.
Digoxin is a well-known ingredient.
The problem with this drug is that it is prone to addiction from overuse.
This is because the “effective dose” of digoxin is very close to the dose that causes addiction, so in order to get the benefits, you have to use the drug until the very end of the side effects.
The side effects vary, but in recent years there have been reports of cases of vision loss due to digitalis poisoning.
If you are unable to abstain from the drug, at least be careful not to exceed 0.125 mg per day.
Delphine Renard, et al. (2015)Spectrum of digoxin-induced ocular toxicity: a case report and literature review
Drugs to lower blood sugar levels
High blood sugar is the source of all diseases.
If the sugar in the blood does not drop properly, it can damage the blood vessels and eventually cause a shortened life span.
This is where the drug is used.
It stimulates the secretion of insulin, and is prescribed to bring blood sugar levels back to normal.
Glibenclamide and chlorpropamide are typical examples.
The reason this drug is so dangerous is that it can trigger hypoglycemic symptoms in some middle-aged and older people.
Specifically, headaches, tremors, severe fatigue, and in the worst cases, loss of consciousness can occur.
If possible, avoid using this medication as well, and consult with your doctor to see if there are any alternatives that can be used.
H2 Blocker
H2 blockers are drugs used to treat inflammation and ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
It has a strong ability to suppress stomach acid.
At first glance, they seem to be safe, but in fact, H2 blockers have been found to have many side effects such as cognitive decline and mental instability.
This is because H2 blockers act on the central nervous system, and elderly people with weakened kidneys are more likely to be adversely affected.
To begin with, the amount of stomach acid begins to decrease in middle-aged and older people, so it is wiser to choose medications that protect the mucous membranes of the digestive system.
antipsychotic drug
Antipsychotics is a general term for drugs used to treat a variety of brain and mind problems.
Of course, it is unavoidable to use it for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, but in other cases, it is best to avoid it.
Prolonged use increases the risk of developing dementia, even in the younger generation, and in the worst case, causes damage such as cerebrovascular damage and increased mortality.
If you do use them, try to limit their use to a short period of time and switch to non-drug treatments such as “cognitive behavioral therapy” as soon as possible.
estrogen
Estrogen is a female hormone medication that is mainly prescribed for symptoms such as hot flashes (hot flashes, flushing, sweating, etc.) of menopause.
However, like many hormone preparations, estrogen has powerful side effects.
This is because hormones taken in from the outside can increase the incidence of breast and uterine cancer, increase the risk of dementia, and even cause blood clots that shorten life expectancy.
Recent studies have also shown that estrogen is not as effective as previously believed.
It is not a drug that should be used casually, unless the symptoms are very severe.