Medications can snowball as we age. Pill organizers pile up. Prescriptions that are no longer necessary can mix with other drugs to create concerning side effects.听
鈥淥nce you get to six or seven prescription medications, you get a nearly 100% chance of some sort of side effect or intolerance,鈥 said physician , director of geriatrics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.听
Paula Span writes 鈥The New Old Age鈥 column for The New York Times and 51视频 Health News. She joined WAMU鈥檚 Health Hub on Sept. 30 to talk about common medications 鈥 from aspirin to benzodiazepines 鈥 that some older patients are overusing.
Span shared tips for keeping loved ones safe and said it鈥檚 important for patients and caregivers to be proactive.听
鈥淒octors prescribe medicine based on the evidence available at the time. But science doesn鈥檛 stop,鈥 Span said. 鈥淵our doctor might not be up on the latest research. And patients get into a routine. They may not question if they still need the drugs they鈥檝e been taking.鈥澛
Experts and pharmacists say: Check with your doctor to make sure the meds you鈥檙e taking are still right for you.
3 Common Drugs Older Adults Might Be Overusing
Not all older people need benzodiazepines, antibiotics, or daily aspirin 鈥 and taking them can carry increased risks.
By Paula Span Sept. 17, 2026
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