Judith Garber writes for the Lown Institute about the overmedication of isolated older adults. Loneliness can have severe health consequences. But, treating loneliness with too many medicines has adverse effects and unclear benefits.
Isolated older adults are more likely to suffer physical impairments. They are more likely to die prematurely. They are also more prone to overtreatment.
Some isolated older adults experience depression. Others experience pain. Both of these conditions can lead doctors to prescribe them medicines even though evidence is scarce that the medicines treat their loneliness. And, these medicines can have harmful side effects.
One recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that doctors tend to prescribe benzodiazepines to older adults who feel lonely twice as often as they do to older adults who do not report being lonely, 11 percent v. 5 percent.
Doctors also prescribe sedatives twice as often to people who report being lonely than to people who are not lonely, 20 percent v. 9 percent. And, doctors prescribe antidepressants nearly twice as often to people who are lonely than people who are not lonely, 27 percent v. 14 percent.
Doctors are more likely to prescribe older adults who are moderately or highly lonely pain relievers, sedatives and antidepressants. They are also more likely to prescribe them multiple prescription drugs. The dangerous side effects of these prescription drugs can actually make it harder for older adults to be socially engaged.
Older adults on benzodiazepines and antidepressants are more likely to experience cognitive impairments. They also face a greater likelihood of falling. If they take too much aspirin or ibuprofen, they face a greater likelihood of kidney and heart failure, ulcers and bleeding.
The best way to improve your health is to have a buddy or buddies. Doctors should be arranging for patients who are lonely to be more socially active. “Social prescribing” would take a bit more time than writing a prescription. It could involve difficult discussions between patients and doctors. But, isn’t that the doctor’s role?
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Improve your health with a buddy
- Coronavirus: Minimizing the health risks of isolation
- People who engage in social sports found to live longer
- Five questions to ask your doctor to avoid overtreatment
- One in seven older adults experience harmful drug side effects
