Adverse effects of medicinal products

Our bodies wear down over time

As you age, your metabolism becomes less efficient, and the elimination of medicinal products is not as effective as it used to be in the past. With age, your liver – which processes and eliminates waste – and your kidneys – which filter your blood – are less effective at eliminating waste from your body.

As you get older, your body eliminates less and less, and doses of medicine that are appropriate for an adult in the prime of their life may prove to be too high for you. Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about it.

Pay attention to polypharmacy

The older people get, the more medicines they take (a phenomenon known as 'polypharmacy'), especially since many illnesses occur more frequently in older age groups. Adverse effects of drug interactions therefore occur.

The most frequent effects of interactions between several medicinal products are dizziness (responsible for falls), irritability, allergies, digestive problems, bleeding, fever, dehydration, falls, confusion, and a decline in overall well-being.

Combining certain medicinal products is not recommended, and may even be contraindicated. Depending on the situation, there is a risk that medicines fail to produce the desired effect, or that they result in drug intoxication.

Take preventive action

• Avoid seeing several different doctors to harmonise your treatment.
• Always tell your doctor what medicines you are taking.
• Follow the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
• Read medicines' product leaflets and keep them in their original packaging.
• Do not buy medicines online.
• Pay attention to side effects and speak to your doctor about them.
• Use your medicinal products cautiously.