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Adverse Drug Effects in Ambulatory Elderly Patients—Reply
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To the Editor: Dr Gurwitz and colleagues1 did not discuss 3 issues relevant to the "new strategies" that they discussed for preventing adverse drug effects.
First, elderly patients are often under the care of several physicians, each of whom may prescribe medications. I find that even with excellent physicians, there is always the possibility of inadequate communication and consequent drug incompatibility.
Second, given the nature of many symptoms of both diseases and normal progression of aging, when several medications are prescribed, it is possible that additional drugs are presented to treat new symptoms that may actually be adverse drug events associated with the initial therapies and/or drug interactions. Diminution in renal and hepatic function and drug effects and interactions may cause significant symptoms not easily differentiated from those initially being treated.
Third, elderly patients are bombarded with claims from purveyors of so-called alternative therapies. Several of these therapies have been . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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