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Medication management
Q: Dear Doctor Marion,
My mother is taking about 23 different medications. She is having bad reactions
to some of these medications. Is there any type of doctor that helps with "medication
management"? – Barbara, Oxnard, CA
A: Believe it or not, what you’re going through with your mother
is very common. I’m not a medical doctor, and my experience has been that when there
are issues surrounding medication, it’s vital for you to consult with a medical
doctor who is also a gerontologist. Gerontologists have a better understanding of
the effects and side effects of medication on an elderly population. They also know
when medications are contra-indicated, and can tell you if your mother should or
should not be taking various vitamins and over-the-counter items.
Before you contact a gerontologist, be sure to list out all of your mother’s medications
and make sure each one of her doctors gets that list. I even take the list to the
local pharmacist since he or she is often aware of any problems that can arise from
that many different medications. It’s also smart to contact a nutritionist who is
an expert at dealing with the elderly. The gerontologist and nutritionist can then
work together on a plan that is height, weight, and age appropriate for your mother.
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