Usually, antibiotics are a good thing, but right now, older Americans are being prescribed too many of them. People over 65 have the highest rate of outpatient prescribing out of any other age group. This is a huge problem.

Older Americans are Taking Too Many Antibiotics

Why are people taking so many antibiotics a problem? Overusing them can cause a severe public health threat because they create drug resistance. Infectious bacteria adapt to medications and make drugs lose their power. This means that people have to use harder, less potent, and more expensive options.

Two million Americans get antibiotic-resistant infections annually, and 23,000 die from them.

They can also interact poorly with other medications, specifically ones that older people take. Examples include statins, blood thinners, kidney, and heart medications.

A specific type of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones has serious side effects. Yet, it’s one of the most common types that is prescribed. It can increase the risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture, nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy and can lead to low blood sugar.

In 2016, it was suggested that fluoroquinolones’ side effects outweigh it’s use when it comes to different common infections. It’s been connected to the difficult to cure C. difficile along with an earlier antibiotic, Clindamycin. This painful infection typically happens in older people.

Upper respiratory infections like colds, sinus infections, and bronchitis are often prescribed antibiotics when it’s not needed because they’re viral, not bacterial. Yet, doctors keep overprescribing antibiotics to older people.

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Pharmacy errors are becoming more common as pharmacists break under company pressure. Many pharmacists are worried about patients’ safety, but there’s only so much they can do. Here’s how to protect yourself from pharmacists’ errors.

How These Mistakes Happen

If you haven’t read our previous article breaking down concerns pharmacists have, we’ll give you a quick recap. Basically, there’s too many tasks expected of pharmacists and not enough people or time to do them. Pharmacists have been trying to get their companies to hear their concerns, but it seems like nothing has changed.

How to Protect Yourself from Pharmacists’ Mistakes

You can start by talking to your pharmacist. They probably look busy, and they are, but they know the most about the drugs they are giving out.

Pharmacy errors don’t mean that pharmacists are your enemy. It just means they are overworked.

Ask them about side effects and whether it’s safe to take with the other medications you have. By asking questions, you increase the chances of the pharmacists taking a second look at your prescription, therefore catching any mistakes.

Open the Bag

Before you leave, open your bag and check the contents. It’s easy just to leave and assume everything is correct. Make sure each bottle has the right name, address, and birthdate. While the papers on the outside have the right info, the bottles could not.

Along those lines, check the pills as well. For the most part, you’re probably familiar with what your medication looks like. If they look different, speak up, and ask questions. Don’t assume they switched to a generic version or used a new supplier.

Report Errors

Make sure to let the pharmacy know there was a mistake. You may feel bad, but not only were you put at risk, but another patient was as well. Reporting mistakes will also alert the doctor too, and every once in a while, the error could come from them.

Errors can also be reported to state pharmacy boards and lets them know what’s going on.

Read more here.