When a treatment may be worse than the problem

In an attempt to help our seniors live longer and more independently, medications may cause harm in other ways, decreasing their ability to be independent in the long run.

I've written about how some medications that seniors take can increase their risk of falls because of low blood pressure or drowsiness, but this article, Commonly used medications associated with impaired physical function in older adults, describes how some other medications affect how seniors move and respond.

It's a good example of how, sometimes, the cure may be worse than the actual problem. It's also a good example of how drugs that are tested on younger people may not be so great for older people.


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