A lot of older people fall because they are weak, unsteady on thier feet, etc. If they get a head injury and are on coumadin, the risk for a head bleed are high.
If I'm 85, I'll take my chances with a stroke or atrial fib, rather than take the risk. I have seen older people on coumadin take a fall and die as a result due to hemmorhage.
While I'm at it, why are old people on statins? I mean who really cares what your cholesterol is at 86? The point of all this? Old people are on a riduculous amount of medication these days that probably won't extend their life. A lot of the time all these meds make them dizzy, confused, weak. They affect their quality of life. Its a full time job to keep track of when to take them.
Its stupid. All it does is make money for the drug companies.
I've had a couple of patients of different ages stop taking ALL of their medications at once and said they felt much better afterwards - go figure!
ReplyDeletemurgatr
Pharm.Tech. RDC'06
My Mema's doctor has tried to put her on statins for years now. She downright refuses every time for exactly the reasons you just mentioned.
ReplyDeleteEvery month I blow a gasket when I see the bill from Medicare on my mother's meds. Forget the National Debt, someone needs to monitor meds thats NOT making a profit off of it. :(
ReplyDeleteEvery month I blow a gasket when I see the bill from Medicare on my mother's meds. Forget the National Debt, someone needs to monitor meds thats NOT making a profit off of it. :(
ReplyDeleteIs death by hemmorhage a painful death?
ReplyDelete