Too many drugs being used by seniors

 According to the Deprescribing Network, seniors are taking too many drugs that may cause seniors harm.

Inappropriate medication use means taking more medications than needed, taking medication for longer than is needed, or when the potential for harm outweighs the potential for benefit.

Nearly $2B is spent yearly on potentially inappropriate medications and their consequences in older adults.

In 2020, Canadians filled over 750 million prescriptions (IQVIA 2020). Medications can help us in many different ways. However, when medications are not used appropriately, they put Canadians at risk of harm:

Older adults, women, people taking multiple medications, and people living in low-income neighbourhoods are at the greatest risk of medication harm.

Medication harms include falls, fractures, memory problems, car crashes, premature loss of independence, and death.

Older Canadians are taking medications that may do more harm than good and we need to take steps to reduce the number of drugs being taken by seniors.

The Antidote:  A Six-Step National Strategy for Appropriate Medication Use

The use of too many medications and medications known to be risky leads to unnecessary patient harm and health system costs. Canada urgently needs a strategy for appropriate medication use to tackle this problem. Our strategy proposes a national organization to coordinate and support evidence-based interventions with and for jurisdictions. This would promote efficient use of resources and allow jurisdictions to build on the learnings and interventions of others. Jurisdictions would have the freedom to select intervention programs that most fit within their needs or context, and in which timeframe. Evaluation would be completed externally, at the level of the national coordinating organization/