(CBSNews) Problems with taking multiple drugs are not limited to drug abusers. In the last 10 years, the percentage of people over 60 who take five or more medications has jumped from 22 percent to 37 percent. CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook looks into in the risks. Fifty-two-year-old Lenette Martin takes so much medicine, she's lost count. "Regularly, I take 11, maybe 12," she said. It's 12, plus four over-the-counter. Martin is one of more than 30 million Americans taking five or more prescription drugs, often called polypharmacy. With each added drug, the risk of side effects increases. For example, Prilosec, which lowers stomach acid, can weaken the effect of the blood thinner Plavix. Dr. Jerry Avorn of Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital studies prescription drug use. "The assumption is," he said, "'Well, you're 80-something years old, no wonder you're dizzy. No wonder you're forgetful. No wonder you're not able to get out of bed in the morning.' -- when, in fact, it may not be because you're getting old. It may be because you're having a drug side effect." Some primary care doctors are trying a new approach -- bringing pharmacists like Sonia Freitas from behind the … Continue reading →

(CBSNews) Problems with taking multiple drugs are not limited to drug abusers. In the last 10 years, the percentage of people over 60 who take five or more medications has jumped from 22 percent to 37 percent. CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook looks into in the risks. Fifty-two-year-old Lenette Martin takes so much medicine, she's lost count. "Regularly, I take 11, maybe 12," she said. It's 12, plus four over-the-counter. Martin is one of more than 30 million Americans taking five or more prescription drugs, often called polypharmacy. With each added drug, the risk of side effects increases. For example, Prilosec, which lowers stomach acid, can weaken the effect of the blood thinner Plavix. Dr. Jerry Avorn of Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital studies prescription drug use. "The assumption is," he said, "'Well, you're 80-something years old, no wonder you're dizzy. No wonder you're forgetful. No wonder you're not able to get out of bed in the morning.' -- when, in fact, it may not be because you're getting old. It may be because you're having a drug side effect." Some primary care doctors are trying a new approach -- bringing pharmacists like Sonia Freitas from behind the … Continue reading →

Alzheimers drug approved Drug dosage was increased despite the side effects THE NEW YORK TIMES March 23, 2012 Four months before a best-selling Alzheimers drug was set to lose its patent protection, its makers received approval for a higher dosage that extended their exclusive right to sell the drug. But the higher dosage caused potentially dangerous side effects and worked only slightly better than the existing drugs, according to an article published Thursday in the British Medical Journal. The drug, Aricept 23, was approved in July 2010 against the advice of reviewers at the Food and Drug Administration. They noted that the clinical trial had failed to show that the higher dosage 23 milligrams versus the previous dosages of five and 10 milligrams met its goals of improving both cognitive and overall functioning in people with moderate to severe Alzheimers disease. The single clinical trial of 1,400 patients also found that the larger dosage led to substantially more nausea and vomiting, potentially dangerous side effects for elderly patients. The drug was developed by the Japanese company Eisai but is marketed in the United States with Pfizer. It doesnt really have much benefit but does substantially more harm, said Dr. Steven … Continue reading →

Four months before a best-selling Alzheimer's drug was set to lose its patent protection, its makers received approval for a higher dosage that extended their exclusive right to sell the drug. But the higher dosage caused potentially dangerous side effects and worked only slightly better than the existing drugs, according to an article published Thursday, March 22, in the British Medical Journal. The drug, Aricept 23, was approved in July 2010 against the advice of reviewers at the Food and Drug Administration. They noted that the clinical trial had failed to show that the higher dosage - 23 milligrams versus the previous dosages of 5 and 10 milligrams - met its goals of improving both cognitive and overall functioning in people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. The single clinical trial of 1,400 patients also found that the larger dosage led to substantially more nausea and vomiting, potentially dangerous side effects for elderly patients struggling with advanced Alzheimer's disease. The drug was developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai but is marketed in the United States in a partnership with Pfizer. "It doesn't really have much benefit but does substantially more harm," said Dr. Steven Woloshin, one of the co-authors … Continue reading →