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A KFF Health News report discussed how older adults can continue taking medicines that are no longer needed, while new prescriptions may add to the mix and contribute to side effects. Geriatrician K. Eric De Jonge and journalist Paula Span urged patients and caregivers to review medications with a doctor rather than stopping drugs on their own.
A KFF Health News report discussed how prescriptions can accumulate as people age and why older adults and caregivers should regularly check with clinicians whether each medicine is still appropriate. Geriatrician K. Eric De Jonge and journalist Paula Span said medication combinations can contribute to side effects, while Span cautioned that research and prescribing guidance can change after a medicine is first prescribed.
Span, who writes The New Old Age column for The New York Times and KFF Health News, joined WAMU’s Health Hub on Sept. 30 to discuss common medications, including aspirin and benzodiazepines, that some older patients may be overusing. The report’s central advice from experts and pharmacists was to ask a doctor to review the medicines a patient takes and determine whether they remain suitable.
De Jonge, director of geriatrics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, said the likelihood of side effects or intolerance rises with the number of prescriptions. He said patients taking six or seven prescription medications have a “nearly 100% chance” of some kind of side effect or intolerance. That figure is his statement in the report; the supplied material does not give the underlying study, population, or definition of side effect.
Span said prescriptions can remain part of a routine even when a patient’s needs or the evidence have changed. The report describes a pattern in which medicines are added over time, while drugs that may no longer be necessary are not reconsidered. It does not identify individual patients or provide a list of specific combinations linked to harm.
Why Medication Reviews Matter
A medication review can help patients and clinicians spot prescriptions that may no longer be needed, as well as possible interactions or overlapping effects. The issue matters particularly for older adults because their medication lists may grow over time, and a medicine started for one reason may remain in use after circumstances change. The report does not say that taking multiple medicines is automatically unsafe; it emphasizes checking whether the full regimen still makes sense for the individual.
Patients and caregivers may also be the people best placed to notice that a list has become difficult to track or that a medicine’s purpose is unclear. Bringing an up-to-date list to a clinician can support a conversation about benefits, risks, and alternatives. Any changes should be discussed with a qualified health professional: the report does not advise patients to stop or adjust prescriptions independently.
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How Prescriptions Accumulate
The report frames medication accumulation as a gradual process rather than a single prescribing decision. A clinician may prescribe a drug based on evidence and the patient’s circumstances at that time. Later, new medicines may be added, research may evolve, or the original reason for treatment may no longer apply. Patients can also continue taking medicines out of habit without asking whether they are still needed.
Span’s comments distinguish between the initial prescription and the need for periodic reassessment. She said doctors may not always be current with the latest research, and patients may not question long-standing routines. Her remarks support asking for a review, but the supplied report does not detail a formal review schedule or specific clinical guidelines.
“Once you get to six or seven prescription medications, you get a nearly 100% chance of some sort of side effect or intolerance.”
— K. Eric De Jonge, director of geriatrics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
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Limits of the Available Evidence
The supplied report does not provide the year of the Sept. 30 WAMU appearance, the studies supporting De Jonge’s estimate, or details about how the chance of side effects was calculated. It also does not specify which medicines or combinations pose particular risks for individual patients. The comments are not a diagnosis or a universal estimate for every person taking six or seven prescriptions.
Whether a medicine should be continued depends on a patient’s health, treatment goals, and the drug’s benefits and risks. The report does not name a particular review protocol or establish how often patients should schedule one. Patients should ask their clinician or pharmacist about their own medication list rather than infer from the general discussion that a particular drug should be stopped.
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Bring the Full Medication List
The practical next step described in the report is a conversation with a doctor or pharmacist about all medicines being taken and whether each remains appropriate. Patients and caregivers can prepare by bringing a current list, including prescription drugs, and asking what each is for, whether it is still needed, and whether it may interact with other medicines. Clinicians can then discuss any proposed changes and how to make them safely.
The supplied source does not announce a policy change, new guideline, or scheduled follow-up. For now, the recommendation is individual review: patients should not stop, reduce, or combine medicines based solely on the report, but should raise questions with a qualified health professional.
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Key Questions
What is the report advising older adults to do?
It advises patients and caregivers to ask a doctor to review the full medication list and confirm that each medicine remains appropriate. The report does not recommend stopping prescriptions without professional guidance.
Does taking six or seven prescriptions mean side effects are certain?
De Jonge said that patients taking that many prescriptions have a “nearly 100% chance” of some side effect or intolerance. The supplied material does not include the evidence or calculation behind the estimate, and it should not be read as a patient-specific prediction.
Which medicines did Span discuss?
The report mentions aspirin and benzodiazepines as examples of common medicines that some older patients may be overusing. It does not identify specific patients or provide a list of combinations that are unsafe for everyone.
Should someone stop a medicine if they think they no longer need it?
No. The report’s advice is to check with a doctor or pharmacist. Whether and how to change a medicine depends on the individual, so patients should get professional guidance before making changes.
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