Medication Management in Older Adults

Guide to safe medication use, interactions, side effects, and organizing medications for seniors.

10 min readLast updated: 2026-02-17

Quick Facts

Average
Adults 65+ take 4-5 medications daily
Polypharmacy
Taking 5+ medications significantly increases adverse event risk
Beers Criteria
Lists medications potentially inappropriate for older adults

Overview: Medication Safety in Older Adults

Older adults take more medications than younger adults due to multiple chronic conditions. Polypharmacy—taking numerous medications—increases risks for drug interactions, adverse effects, and medication errors. Age-related physiological changes affect drug metabolism and clearance .

Careful medication management, regular review, and simplification prevent complications and improve outcomes.

Key Information
Older adults experience altered drug metabolism, increased sensitivity to medications, and higher rates of adverse effects. Memory changes and vision problems increase medication error risk. Regular medication review ensures continued appropriateness.

Common Medication Issues

Drug interactions occur when medications affect each other's effectiveness or increase toxicity. Side effects in older adults may differ from younger adults or present as nonspecific symptoms like confusion or falls. Medication non-adherence occurs when complexity exceeds ability to manage.

Organizing Medications

Pill organizers with compartments labeled by date/time reduce errors. Automatic medication dispensers can alert to doses and provide refill reminders. Written schedules with clear instructions support adherence. Using one pharmacy helps prevent drug interactions oversight.

Medication Review

Annual comprehensive medication reviews with healthcare provider identify unnecessary medications, potential interactions, and dosing adjustments needed for age and renal function. Deprescribing—safely discontinuing unneeded medications—improves safety and reduces costs.

Warning
Sudden behavioral changes, falls, confusion, or new symptoms may indicate medication side effects rather than new disease. Report all medications (including over-the-counter, supplements, herbal products) to all healthcare providers.
Clinical Note
Deprescribing addresses polypharmacy and medication appropriateness . The Beers Criteria lists medications with increased risks in older adults. Simplifying regimens (combining doses, using long-acting formulations) improves adherence. Regular monitoring of medication effectiveness and side effects ensures optimal therapy. Involve family members in medication management and adherence support.

Safety Monitoring

Regular blood pressure, weight, and laboratory monitoring detect medication effects. Symptom tracking identifies new or changing side effects. Provider communication about medication effectiveness guides adjustments.

Sources

  1. [1]Qato DM et al.. "Medication Management in Older Adults: Best Practices." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2017.
  2. [2]Maher RL et al.. "Polypharmacy and Medication Errors in Older Adults." Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 2017.

Medically reviewed by

Medical Review Team, Geriatrics

Last updated: 2026-02-17Sources: 2

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