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Paula Span discussed medication use among older adults during WAMU’s Health Hub on Sept. 30, urging patients and caregivers to check whether prescriptions remain appropriate. The report describes possible side effects from interacting or unnecessary drugs, but it does not identify a new study or establish a universal medication threshold.
Older adults and their caregivers should ask clinicians to review whether each prescription is still appropriate, Paula Span said during a Sept. 30 WAMU Health Hub discussion about medication use. The KFF Health News report highlights how prescriptions accumulated over time can interact or cause side effects, while stressing that patients should not stop medicines without discussing changes with a health professional.
Span, who writes The New York Times and KFF Health News column “The New Old Age,” discussed common medications, including aspirin and benzodiazepines, that some older patients may be using more than they need. The report’s central advice from experts and pharmacists is to check with a doctor that the medicines being taken remain suitable.
Medications may stay on a person’s list after the reason for prescribing them has changed or passed. Meanwhile, new prescriptions can be added, leaving patients and caregivers to manage a growing mix. The report says those drugs can combine in ways that produce concerning side effects, though it does not give individual case details or quantify the frequency of specific drug interactions.
Physician K. Eric De Jonge, director of geriatrics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, said the likelihood of a side effect or intolerance rises as the number of prescriptions increases. He offered a specific estimate for people taking six or seven prescription medicines; the report does not identify the study or data behind that figure, so it should be understood as his attributed statement rather than a universal prediction.
Why Medication Reviews Matter
A medication review can give patients and clinicians a chance to check whether each drug still has a purpose, whether doses remain appropriate, and whether medicines may be contributing to unwanted effects. That conversation matters especially when prescriptions have accumulated over time or come from multiple clinicians.
The report also places responsibility on patients and caregivers to speak up rather than assume an old prescription is still needed. That does not mean changing treatment independently: stopping or adjusting a medicine can carry risks, and decisions should be made with a clinician who understands the patient’s health and medication history.
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How Prescriptions Accumulate
The report describes a familiar pattern: a medicine is prescribed based on the evidence and circumstances at one point, then remains part of a patient’s routine as research, health conditions, or other prescriptions change. Span said patients may not question medicines they have taken for a long time, while clinicians may not be up to date on every later research development.
The discussion frames this as a reason for periodic review, not as evidence that all older adults should reduce their medication count. Some people need several prescriptions, and the appropriate mix depends on individual circumstances. The report gives examples of medication categories for discussion but does not recommend that readers discontinue any particular drug.
““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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What the Report Does Not Establish
The source is a report on a radio discussion, not a newly released clinical study or formal prescribing guideline. It does not provide supporting data for De Jonge’s estimate, explain how the figure was calculated, or identify which patients it applies to. It also does not quantify how often specific medication combinations cause harm.
The discussion offers no patient-specific medication advice. Whether a drug should be continued, changed, or stopped depends on the person’s condition and treatment history. The report does not set a recommended medication count or state that aspirin, benzodiazepines, or any other category is inappropriate for every older adult.
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Plan a Clinician-Led Review
Patients and caregivers can bring an up-to-date list of prescription medicines to a clinician or pharmacist and ask what each one is for, whether it is still needed, and whether any medicines could be contributing to side effects. The list should include relevant over-the-counter medicines and supplements so the review reflects what the person actually takes.
Any proposed change should be discussed with the prescribing clinician before it is made. The report points readers toward proactive conversations, but it does not announce a new program, policy, or formal follow-up date. Medication reviews remain an ongoing part of individual care.
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Key Questions
What did the WAMU discussion advise patients to do?
It urged patients and caregivers to ask a doctor to review whether the medicines being taken are still appropriate. The KFF Health News report also cites experts and pharmacists recommending regular checks with a clinician.
Should someone stop a medicine they think they no longer need?
No. The report does not advise people to stop medicines on their own. Discuss any possible change with a clinician who can consider the reason for the prescription and the person’s health history.
Does taking six or seven prescriptions guarantee side effects?
No universal guarantee is established by the report. De Jonge said that people taking six or seven prescription medicines have a “nearly 100% chance” of some side effect or intolerance, but the supplied source does not provide the underlying data or methodology.
Which medicines did the discussion mention?
Span discussed common medications including aspirin and benzodiazepines as examples of drugs some older patients may be overusing. The report does not say these medicines are unsuitable for everyone.
What should someone bring to a medication review?
Bring a current list of medicines and ask what each is for and whether it remains appropriate. Include over-the-counter products and supplements, and confirm any changes with a health professional.
Source: rss
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