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Maybe. But it’s a matter of trusting your doctor, I guess. My husband is on a buttload of meds for a lot of different issues. I’d be afraid to discontinue them. There has to be a reason he’s on them. He’s on Eliquis, which is $500 a month, but that, too, is necessary for stroke prevention.
My mom was 95 and took her meds up until the day before she died. Like I said, personally, I’d be afraid to stop taking my meds.
For myself, I would like to leave instructions to stop giving me those meds if I end up with some form of dementia and have reached certain stage where I am becoming a burden. Why keep the body going if the mind is leaving.
I don't think age comes into it, there are people struggling in their 70's and others who are robust well into their 90's... l have a friend whose aunt was still living a full active life until she died unexpectedly at 105. For us it came on the heels of the realization that things were getting worse despite the medications so all but those deemed necessary for QOL were dropped, although l was very fearful at first mom kept on going anyway.
I don’t think it depends on age necessarily, but it does sometimes seem we are supporting life with meds when the quality if life is long gone. My dad is on some calming meds for his dementia. He’s 89, in memory care but it’s not really life.
I pay a drug service the facility uses to supply his meds. His insurance changed and now his eye drops for glaucoma cost over $200 per month. He can afford it so I pay it out of guilt mostly. I asked the staff if it’s really necessary at this point but they kinda calmed up. I suspect it would make no difference if he quit the eyedrops.
if my dad could step out of his dementia body for a minute and take a look at his life now there’s no doubt in my mind that he would want it to end immediately. So much of what we do in prolonging life is based on emotion and guilt, not rational thought.
I see the calming meds as part of making him and the people around him comfortable (as long as they work of course) kind of like pain meds but I sure am with you on the eye drops unless they actually help him see rather than prevent possible future issues... I too know that if she get's to that point my mom would want her existence ended. She once told me that when it came time she was just going to walk out into the woods in the winder and go to sleep under a tree, die of hypothermia.
I think this is a topic worth discussing with your physician. You'll probably be able to figure out if the physician seriously considers your questions or if he or she reflexively says that you shouldn't stop taking any of the medications. If you get the latter response, do some research of your own.
And don't assume that a medication was originally prescribed for a 100% valid reason. See the following article, for example: https://www.statnews.com/2019/04/02/overprescribed-americas-other-drug-problem/
A medication review can be a good thing. Even a second opinion.
I was prescribed high blood pressure meds, but I do not have high blood pressure. It was all part of the "Standard of care" given to e v e r y o n e these days, as standard protocol by the HMO doctors.
We need to be our own health advocates in addition to consulting our doctors.
My answer is meant to be "overall, in general", and does not include patients of any age who might have a diagnosed terminal illness.
High blood pressure and diabetes meds should never be stopped.
Cholesterol? There comes a time, I feel its not needed anymore. It has been proven that statins contribute to Dementia. Members have mentioned when an elderly LO is taken off them, their cognitive ability seems improved.
I don't think statins have been proven to contribute towards dementia and can actually help against it, as lower cholesterol means fewer strokes, which can cause vascular dementia. So less chance of strokes, less chance of vascular dementia.
My 'new' PCP saw the list of meds I was taking at age 60 for cholesterol---and blew a head gasket, Sent me in for a complete heart and chest scan. Clear as a bell. My cholesterol is in the 400's. Dh had 2 major heart attacks last summer with a non medicated cholesterol of 150. Totally occluded arteries. 4 stents placed and one replaced a week after the first procedure. Go figure.
ME? I want to be on nothing but my anxiety meds by age 75 and don't plan or expect to be on anything else, Gonna let life happen.
I currently am fighting Stage 3 Lymphoma--came out of the blue. I told my oncologist I was a 'one and done' patient. When this returns, 10, 15, 20 years, I will not treat it again.
Just a caution, but certain anxiety meds are implicated in contributing to dementia. Any of the ones that are anticholinergics like Xanax, Valium, klonipin, etc. that’s because choline is needed in the brain to consolidate memory and these drugs reduce choline. Check to see what you’re on and switch if you can.
I have multiple co-morbidities and multiple medications. I have a medication manager at local hospital. I have to be careful with both diet and medications. I go every 6 weeks to the hospital dietician and to my medication manager. I think I receive good advice and coordination between my PCP, specialists, nutritionist and medication manager. I think I’m fortunate to have good providers in my area.
Becky, would you please, tell us how old you are? I'm like you with multiples, and am interested if you intend to maintain your medical regime, or if at a specific age or condition, you would phase it out. Thank you, for the info.
I’ve told my husband when I get “old”, but it’s not a specific number, more of how good my quality of life is that I don’t want to be on any meds meant to help me keep living, or any flu or pneumonia vaccines. Comfort care drugs only. I’m 49 & only take allergy meds & Advil so we’ll see how that plan goes. My FIL was 89, mind as sharp as a tack & he still canned foods, gardened & mowed his lawn. I would not have taken his maintenance drugs from him. My mom is 79, immobile, has dementia but is “okay” for the most part & in a nursing home. Her meds are a different story.
There is not a number since everyone ages differently.
I think it has to do with how a person is doing. If the person is not doing well and has a horrible quality of life with no possibility of improvement, then I think that it's time to consider discontinuing all meds not necessary for comfort care.
It really depends on their quality of life and how that benefits others.
I believe that aging confers an evolutionary benefit on the species, not individuals. Biogenic obsolescence (aging) is the way evolution makes room for new models by clearing out the old to create change. Evolution.
The only way a species becomes upgraded is by eliminating individuals.. we are such a selfish species that we blame survival instinct for not bowing out with some dignity and grace. We’re no longer capable of sex and reproduction so why do we get excited about things like the possibility of powerful new weapons against cancer, aging, cognitive impairment and so on?
sooooo my answer to your question is if you need to take pharmaceuticals for mostly preventable lifestyle diseases to ensure you stay alive please do yourself the dignity of passing away graciously IF you’re no longer contributing positive benefits to your next generation.
*many (when I was young) loved the idea of going to heaven to be with their loved ones again... what happened to that?
You aren't really saying that once we aren't capable of reproducing anymore we are no longer (or can no longer be) productive contributors to society and our families are you?
As I don't think one should be on these typical age poppers until the situations can no longer be managed by alternative means, (most can be avoided for many years with some dietary and lifestyle changes, and I would rather not start taking them.) I don't think there is an age you can quit taking them. However frequent monitoring of need and dosage is vital and may lead to being able to cut right down and in particular with BP meds stop.
"(most can be avoided for many years with some dietary and lifestyle changes, and I would rather not start taking them.)"
I'm hiding from them whenever I can!!! So far I have been able to avoid them... I don't even get flu shots or pneumonia shots. I have *never* had the flu in my entire life, and haven't even been sick with a cold in decades! Kids would bring home ailments but I wouldn't get them!
When you want those illnesses to kill you? I'm 54 and I'm on those medications, except that my diabetes is Type 1. I take a few others too. It sounds like you're asking when it's appropriate to commit slow suicide. The diabetes could be a little quicker, but you might lose a foot or two. I don't know what to tell you.
In one of my replies I mentioned this. Type I you really don't have a choice, you have to take insulin to live! Age isn't the determining factor in whether or not to continue taking ANY medications, quality of life is.
IF I were my mother, now 96 on BP meds with dementia and become bed-ridden, unable to talk, care for myself, hear, see, then sure, bring in hospice and take away the medications. They are not contributing to any kind a quality life. For now, she gets around, can still read, eat, use the bathroom, etc... so the BP meds continue. If we stopped those just because she reached a magical age, she'd likely have a serious cardiac event and suffer!
Type II, if it is Dxed early enough and one is dedicated to avoiding meds, life-style and dietary changes can lead to getting rid of it. Same with BP - unless it is high from birth and will always require meds, nipping it early with diet and exercise can reduce or eliminate the need for these meds!
Unfortunately sometimes taking one med leads to another, again , unavoidable in your situation. There was a woman where I worked who I believe was younger than me (probably in her 50s?) and she was on 7 different medications!! None of my business, so I didn't ask...
So, no, age is NOT a way to determine when to stop medications.
How about the ads for all the over the counter stuff. One of my favs is Larry the cable guy selling a tummy med while knawing on some barbecue. Or the antacid ads where people are beating up on pizza and corn dogs. The theme being, go ahead, eat all this crap, we got ya covered.
Then there’s the big pharma ads. I can’t even keep,up with all the insulin meds but I have noticed the actors in the ads are starting to look like real people, a bit pear shaped and tubby. But in the ads they take whatever it is and are always doing all these very active things in beautiful settings. Many are talented musicians it seems.
After a particularly stressful trip about 3 years ago to deal with my parents many issues and crises, I noticed that my heart beat was kinda funny. Went through the local industrial medical cardio maze and it’s A Fib. So been on a small dose of whatever it is since. The symptoms have long since subsided but my doc tells me I should stay on the meds. Oh well, what the hell do I know.....
ill keep taking the stuff but I suspect it’s unnecessary. Maybe if I got of the beer and ice cream in the summer ? Nahhhh. That’s just crazy.
"The theme being, go ahead, eat all this crap, we got ya covered." THAT got a laugh out of me!!!
Yes, advertisements... WE will solve all your problems with the MAGIC pill!!! The radio/internet ads (thankfully there are dials and Skip Ads buttons!) rattle off so many side-effects/warnings, it comes out as gabble. Magazine ads, boast THIS, then follow it up with 2-3 pages of warning and side-effects!!! Yup, I WANT that.... Not.
"...always doing all these very active things in beautiful settings." I would do those things for a nice pay check, BUT I would have to BELIEVE in it first. If just getting paid to look active and cute, promoting some garbage I wouldn't even share a seat with? NOPE.
I agree with so many of the answers posted. It isn't an age... it is what a person's condition dictates. Most of us are told by our doctors that we will always have to take our medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, etc. Yet, my experience, as a nurse, working with the elderly, has shown differently. When folks retire, there may be a great reduction in stress (natural lowering of the blood pressure). Some folks will start exercising or eating better which may lead to weight loss or generally improved health. It just depends. In the 1980's, I believe, there was a study done in one of the Scandinavian countries showing that (in general) you can preserve the heart... or the brain. This is a generalization. But when blood pressure was controlled to help the heart last longer, there was an increase in dementia. Vice versa. When the blood pressure wasn't controlled so well, there was less dementia but more heart problems. This isn't an exact relationship...more a trend. If anyone is interested in exploring gerontology, you will find that the parameters used for us when we are younger, are less strict when we age. Blood pressure running a little higher, can improve perfusion of the brain. Not a bad thing. Tightly controlled blood sugar is less likely to be safe - allowing the sugar to run a little higher actually mirrors what our bodies do naturally as we age. Why take a chance on your sugar going too low and causing much worse consequences. These are not rules... these are items to be considered.
I think reviewing your current health (having a physical) and all of your medications is a great thing to do annually. Keeping records of what your numbers are at home (blood sugar or pressure), also helps your doctor, or other practitioner, see how to help you weed out what is not necessary.
Nan, but wouldn’t hbp drugs prevent stroke? I’m confused. My mother got dementia but was taking hbp drugs & she still got mini strokes which caused dementia.
My mom is 95 and still takes them. I have been pondering the same question myself. She complains about taking so many meds but the docs (several) all insist that she needs them. It is a very frustrating dilemma.
I would think maintenance drugs would continue as long as vital signs and blood labs indicate they are doing what they are prescribed to do. Labs or sugar levels may signal a need to change dosages, but if you have faith in the prescribing doctor, I'm not sure why you would want to quit maintenance drugs. If the patient is in the final days or few weeks before death maintenance may no longer be appropriate.
From what I have read (and experienced) from many pharmaceuticals, I decided to stop all of them. Mostly, I tapered them slowly. After I had been drug-free for a while my quality of life increased. I was able to go back to work. I can't believe I was ever on all those drugs. I can't believe I was talked into taking them. They were disabling to me.
As you can tell by the varied posts, there is no exact science to the meds issue. Consider all the advice but the most important input comes from yourself.
Depends. How long have you been taking all these meds? Is there one primary-care physician who knows everything you're taking, including vitamins and supplements?
Often as we get older, our metabolism changes. The dose that was needed and effective at 40 may be excessive at 60. The dose that worked at 60 may be too much at 75, etc.
Also, drug interaction can change. Two drugs that were fine together when we were active and eating three full, well-balanced meals every day may interact differently if we become more sedentary, eat only yogurt for breakfast (me), and find that we're only eating meat a couple of times a month.
It's not a number, but it's probably best to seriously re-evaluate your meds at milestone ages. Certainly re-evaluate every 10 years, maybe even every 5.
Also, watch for condition changes. Anyone who is having cognitive issues should have a serious meds review with their physician. Often the right thing to do is taper everything and watch closely for symptoms, then add back only the drugs that are actually needed now, by THIS body at THIS age in THIS condition (rather than the body you had at the time they were prescribed). Sometimes a person who exhibits early-dementia signs will have a significant cognitive improvement once the drug burden is reduced.
I work in Hospice, and when someone comes onto Hospice the first thing we do is reduce drug burden, discontinuing everything that is not directly reducing symptoms, because the whole point, now, is quality of life in the moment, not the longterm future.
Funny things happen. Someone who was diabetic in his 50s turns out not to need his (non-insulin) meds in his 70s, tapering off them without changing his blood sugar. Go figure.
Since all of those meds have side effects, quality of life can actually improve when the meds are discontinued. Maybe the patient hadn't needed those meds since he started doing most of his own cooking rather than eating in restaurants? Maybe his metabolism had started to wind down? Who knows.
Sometimes meds have been added to take care of side effects from something else. Maybe one medicine for a medical condition causes insomnia, so the patient gets something to help with sleep. Maybe another med causes stomach upset, so an antacid is prescribed. Maybe something causes nausea, so an anti-nausea drug is prescribed. (Maybe it's better to re-evaluate the original condition and change the original med? Just a thought).
Remarkably many of our patients arrive to us taking 20 or 30 drugs for various conditions (!). I am amazed that they can even swallow that many, and incidentally nobody has done double-blind studies on all those interactions together. Most of the time patients experience some improvement when most of those are discontinued, leaving only the ones that have significant impact on their condition NOW.
Bottom line: if you think you'd like to stop taking something, ask your doctor to help you taper it safely, and watch closely to see what happens.
"It's not a number, but it's probably best to seriously re-evaluate your meds at milestone ages. Certainly re-evaluate every 10 years, maybe even every 5."
I don't take any meds, thankfully, but if I did, I would want them checked EVERY year. Simple blood/urine tests along with BP check can identify how things appear to be going. Monitoring every year can catch changes sooner. If BP is lowered over time, perhaps BP meds can be reduced or eliminated. If cholesterol is now okay, perhaps try eliminating a retesting... Certainly this should be done in concert with the doctor, but waiting 5-10 years to re-evaluate? Even vets recommend yearly checkups (with those over 10-12 to include blood/urine tests, again to catch changes!)
Another note - your best source for medication information is usually the pharmacist (like ANY profession, not all are created equal, but they DO know more than MOST doctors about medications.)
Please ask a doctor. That is his sight. If he has the money independent of your money, then I say yes. If it is a burden on you than again, I would ask a doctor how does this help his quality of life. As far as blood pressure medication and the like, those are life sustaining drugs. Would you not feed him? It's a tough situation to be in. I am glad you brought it up as I think it is a critical point. Wish you the best.
If I were you I would research each med that my loved one is taking and their age. I did that with my Mother's meds when she got into her 80's. Many elderly get weaker and don't eat as well as they used to. I figured unnecessary meds would do more harm than good. Sure enough, I decided to take my Mom off a couple and even talked to the PA about it and they agreed. Many people are afraid to question their doctors' advice. I never have been, plus I always try and research for information on my own to gain a better understanding. I can tell you I have saved myself from a couple of unnecessary surgeries had I not questioned the doctors. Many doctors are too quick to prescribe meds.
Yup, easy solution (however the laziness of many people probably contributed to this - too many take the "easy" way out rather than trying some alternatives such as life-style/dietary changes for type II diabetes, BP or cholesterol, OR just don't question the doc, s/he knows best!)
One doc immediately said cholesterol drugs rather than try to eliminate the issue with diet/exercise. When I finished my research on this issue (I did not eat the "typical" foods!) I brought a form for the gym, needing his signature. He STILL maintained that I wouldn't change my numbers with diet change. MANY years later, I still don't take those meds and my cholesterol is fine.
Another tried Fosamax for osteoporosis. After looking it up and reading much about it, no way!
I don't even do the flu shots or pneumonia shots - have never, ever had the flu and haven't had any kind of illness/cold in decades!
Are you asking for an elderly parent or one that is terminally ill? My mother is 79 and has dementia and I made the decision to stop her mammograms. Why? Because if she did have breast cancer, I would not put her through chemo, radiation and or surgery. She is on cholesterol medication and I have not had a conversation with her doctor about stopping the statins yet, but plan to. I think he will fight me on it but... If she is in pain or uncomfortable, of course we act on it, but I no longer see the point of doing things that prolong her life. She would not want to live like this if she were in her right mind and I respect her wishes. To be clear, anything she needs to be comfortable we are doing. On the other hand I have a 98 yr old mother in law who is in great health, still lives alone, plays bridge, drives, etc.... she still has quality of life and I wouldn't dream of suggesting she stop any of her "maintenance drugs" or routine.
To answer your questions, I think it depends on the person, their quality of life and their wishes. No set rules here.
I have made the "mammogram" decision on my own at age 70. I am now 77. That knowing I have a history of aggressive breast cancer 31 years ago (found under my armpit by ME; negative mammograms). At that time I took 6 months adjuvent chemo with mastectomy; I refused radiation. At this point in my life, were I to have a recurrance of cancer, I would not treat it other than palliatively. Being a nurse I know there are many worse ways to go, and would ask for the "good drugs". I have zero fear of death; I do fear torture, and medical treatments can at some rare times amount to just that. I think these are all individual decisions we can make for ourselves while we are able, should discuss with families so that they can make them for us when we are no longer able. I so agree with you. There are no set rules here.
CNN reported that, in 2015, nearly half of physicians received some pharmaceutical payment. Anyone being prescribed a medication ought to know if it's truly necessary - one size treatment does not fit all - and if XYZ "illness" can be controlled some other way. Meds are a double-edged sword. They have side effects. They treat one thing and often cause another.
Yes. Often doctors receive 6% of the cost of the newer drugs from the pharmaceutical companies. It was thought that some years ago this practice was stopped by lawmakers. It was not.
My mother is 93 yrs old. She is on hospice for chf. Hospice took her off her blood thinner meds and her statin meds, but kept her on the water pills (lasix) and her heart rhythm meds (metoprolol). She is doing much better now and more stable on a daily basis. While I was apprehensive at first, I agree with these decisions now that I see how she improved.
Not everyone ages at the same rate - this is an individual thing best discussed with a dr who is familiar with the person involved - ask questions to show you care and are involved but that dr knows how the person has reacted in the past presuming the dr has had the person for some time
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My mom was 95 and took her meds up until the day before she died. Like I said, personally, I’d be afraid to stop taking my meds.
For us it came on the heels of the realization that things were getting worse despite the medications so all but those deemed necessary for QOL were dropped, although l was very fearful at first mom kept on going anyway.
I pay a drug service the facility uses to supply his meds. His insurance changed and now his eye drops for glaucoma cost over $200 per month. He can afford it so I pay it out of guilt mostly. I asked the staff if it’s really necessary at this point but they kinda calmed up. I suspect it would make no difference if he quit the eyedrops.
if my dad could step out of his dementia body for a minute and take a look at his life now there’s no doubt in my mind that he would want it to end immediately. So much of what we do in prolonging life is based on emotion and guilt, not rational thought.
And don't assume that a medication was originally prescribed for a 100% valid reason. See the following article, for example: https://www.statnews.com/2019/04/02/overprescribed-americas-other-drug-problem/
I was prescribed high blood pressure meds, but I do not have high blood pressure.
It was all part of the "Standard of care" given to e v e r y o n e these days, as standard protocol by the HMO doctors.
We need to be our own health advocates in addition to consulting our doctors.
My answer is meant to be "overall, in general", and does not include patients of any age who might have a diagnosed terminal illness.
Cholesterol? There comes a time, I feel its not needed anymore. It has been proven that statins contribute to Dementia. Members have mentioned when an elderly LO is taken off them, their cognitive ability seems improved.
ME? I want to be on nothing but my anxiety meds by age 75 and don't plan or expect to be on anything else, Gonna let life happen.
I currently am fighting Stage 3 Lymphoma--came out of the blue. I told my oncologist I was a 'one and done' patient. When this returns, 10, 15, 20 years, I will not treat it again.
My FIL was 89, mind as sharp as a tack & he still canned foods, gardened & mowed his lawn. I would not have taken his maintenance drugs from him. My mom is 79, immobile, has dementia but is “okay” for the most part & in a nursing home. Her meds are a different story.
I think it has to do with how a person is doing. If the person is not doing well and has a horrible quality of life with no possibility of improvement, then I think that it's time to consider discontinuing all meds not necessary for comfort care.
I believe that aging confers an evolutionary benefit on the species, not individuals. Biogenic obsolescence (aging) is the way evolution makes room for new models by clearing out the old to create change. Evolution.
The only way a species becomes upgraded is by eliminating individuals.. we are such a selfish species that we blame survival instinct for not bowing out with some dignity and grace. We’re no longer capable of sex and reproduction so why do we get excited about things like the possibility of powerful new weapons against cancer, aging, cognitive impairment and so on?
sooooo my answer to your question is if you need to take pharmaceuticals for mostly preventable lifestyle diseases to ensure you stay alive please do yourself the dignity of passing away graciously IF you’re no longer contributing positive benefits to your next generation.
*many (when I was young) loved the idea of going to heaven to be with their loved ones again... what happened to that?
I'm hiding from them whenever I can!!! So far I have been able to avoid them... I don't even get flu shots or pneumonia shots. I have *never* had the flu in my entire life, and haven't even been sick with a cold in decades! Kids would bring home ailments but I wouldn't get them!
IF I were my mother, now 96 on BP meds with dementia and become bed-ridden, unable to talk, care for myself, hear, see, then sure, bring in hospice and take away the medications. They are not contributing to any kind a quality life. For now, she gets around, can still read, eat, use the bathroom, etc... so the BP meds continue. If we stopped those just because she reached a magical age, she'd likely have a serious cardiac event and suffer!
Type II, if it is Dxed early enough and one is dedicated to avoiding meds, life-style and dietary changes can lead to getting rid of it. Same with BP - unless it is high from birth and will always require meds, nipping it early with diet and exercise can reduce or eliminate the need for these meds!
Unfortunately sometimes taking one med leads to another, again , unavoidable in your situation. There was a woman where I worked who I believe was younger than me (probably in her 50s?) and she was on 7 different medications!! None of my business, so I didn't ask...
So, no, age is NOT a way to determine when to stop medications.
How about the ads for all the over the counter stuff. One of my favs is Larry the cable guy selling a tummy med while knawing on some barbecue. Or the antacid ads where people are beating up on pizza and corn dogs. The theme being, go ahead, eat all this crap, we got ya covered.
Then there’s the big pharma ads. I can’t even keep,up with all the insulin meds but I have noticed the actors in the ads are starting to look like real people, a bit pear shaped and tubby. But in the ads they take whatever it is and are always doing all these very active things in beautiful settings. Many are talented musicians it seems.
After a particularly stressful trip about 3 years ago to deal with my parents many issues and crises, I noticed that my heart beat was kinda funny. Went through the local industrial medical cardio maze and it’s A Fib. So been on a small dose of whatever it is since. The symptoms have long since subsided but my doc tells me I should stay on the meds. Oh well, what the hell do I know.....
ill keep taking the stuff but I suspect it’s unnecessary. Maybe if I got of the beer and ice cream in the summer ? Nahhhh. That’s just crazy.
Yes, advertisements... WE will solve all your problems with the MAGIC pill!!! The radio/internet ads (thankfully there are dials and Skip Ads buttons!) rattle off so many side-effects/warnings, it comes out as gabble. Magazine ads, boast THIS, then follow it up with 2-3 pages of warning and side-effects!!! Yup, I WANT that.... Not.
"...always doing all these very active things in beautiful settings." I would do those things for a nice pay check, BUT I would have to BELIEVE in it first. If just getting paid to look active and cute, promoting some garbage I wouldn't even share a seat with? NOPE.
Yet, my experience, as a nurse, working with the elderly, has shown differently. When folks retire, there may be a great reduction in stress (natural lowering of the blood pressure). Some folks will start exercising or eating better which may lead to weight loss or generally improved health. It just depends.
In the 1980's, I believe, there was a study done in one of the Scandinavian countries showing that (in general) you can preserve the heart... or the brain. This is a generalization. But when blood pressure was controlled to help the heart last longer, there was an increase in dementia. Vice versa. When the blood pressure wasn't controlled so well, there was less dementia but more heart problems. This isn't an exact relationship...more a trend. If anyone is interested in exploring gerontology, you will find that the parameters used for us when we are younger, are less strict when we age. Blood pressure running a little higher, can improve perfusion of the brain. Not a bad thing.
Tightly controlled blood sugar is less likely to be safe - allowing the sugar to run a little higher actually mirrors what our bodies do naturally as we age. Why take a chance on your sugar going too low and causing much worse consequences.
These are not rules... these are items to be considered.
I think reviewing your current health (having a physical) and all of your medications is a great thing to do annually. Keeping records of what your numbers are at home (blood sugar or pressure), also helps your doctor, or other practitioner, see how to help you weed out what is not necessary.
Often as we get older, our metabolism changes. The dose that was needed and effective at 40 may be excessive at 60. The dose that worked at 60 may be too much at 75, etc.
Also, drug interaction can change. Two drugs that were fine together when we were active and eating three full, well-balanced meals every day may interact differently if we become more sedentary, eat only yogurt for breakfast (me), and find that we're only eating meat a couple of times a month.
It's not a number, but it's probably best to seriously re-evaluate your meds at milestone ages. Certainly re-evaluate every 10 years, maybe even every 5.
Also, watch for condition changes. Anyone who is having cognitive issues should have a serious meds review with their physician. Often the right thing to do is taper everything and watch closely for symptoms, then add back only the drugs that are actually needed now, by THIS body at THIS age in THIS condition (rather than the body you had at the time they were prescribed). Sometimes a person who exhibits early-dementia signs will have a significant cognitive improvement once the drug burden is reduced.
I work in Hospice, and when someone comes onto Hospice the first thing we do is reduce drug burden, discontinuing everything that is not directly reducing symptoms, because the whole point, now, is quality of life in the moment, not the longterm future.
Funny things happen. Someone who was diabetic in his 50s turns out not to need his (non-insulin) meds in his 70s, tapering off them without changing his blood sugar. Go figure.
Since all of those meds have side effects, quality of life can actually improve when the meds are discontinued. Maybe the patient hadn't needed those meds since he started doing most of his own cooking rather than eating in restaurants? Maybe his metabolism had started to wind down? Who knows.
Sometimes meds have been added to take care of side effects from something else. Maybe one medicine for a medical condition causes insomnia, so the patient gets something to help with sleep. Maybe another med causes stomach upset, so an antacid is prescribed. Maybe something causes nausea, so an anti-nausea drug is prescribed. (Maybe it's better to re-evaluate the original condition and change the original med? Just a thought).
Remarkably many of our patients arrive to us taking 20 or 30 drugs for various conditions (!). I am amazed that they can even swallow that many, and incidentally nobody has done double-blind studies on all those interactions together. Most of the time patients experience some improvement when most of those are discontinued, leaving only the ones that have significant impact on their condition NOW.
Bottom line: if you think you'd like to stop taking something, ask your doctor to help you taper it safely, and watch closely to see what happens.
I don't take any meds, thankfully, but if I did, I would want them checked EVERY year. Simple blood/urine tests along with BP check can identify how things appear to be going. Monitoring every year can catch changes sooner. If BP is lowered over time, perhaps BP meds can be reduced or eliminated. If cholesterol is now okay, perhaps try eliminating a retesting... Certainly this should be done in concert with the doctor, but waiting 5-10 years to re-evaluate? Even vets recommend yearly checkups (with those over 10-12 to include blood/urine tests, again to catch changes!)
Another note - your best source for medication information is usually the pharmacist (like ANY profession, not all are created equal, but they DO know more than MOST doctors about medications.)
money independent of your money, then I say yes. If it is a burden on you than again, I would ask a doctor how does this help his quality of life. As far as blood pressure medication and the like, those are life sustaining drugs. Would you not feed him? It's a tough situation to be in. I am glad you brought it up as I think it is a critical point. Wish you the best.
I did that with my Mother's meds when she got into her 80's. Many elderly get weaker and don't eat as well as they used to. I figured unnecessary meds would
do more harm than good. Sure enough, I decided to take my Mom off a couple and even talked to the PA about it and they agreed. Many people are afraid to question
their doctors' advice. I never have been, plus I always try and research for information on my own to gain a better understanding. I can tell you I have saved
myself from a couple of unnecessary surgeries had I not questioned the doctors.
Many doctors are too quick to prescribe meds.
Yup, easy solution (however the laziness of many people probably contributed to this - too many take the "easy" way out rather than trying some alternatives such as life-style/dietary changes for type II diabetes, BP or cholesterol, OR just don't question the doc, s/he knows best!)
One doc immediately said cholesterol drugs rather than try to eliminate the issue with diet/exercise. When I finished my research on this issue (I did not eat the "typical" foods!) I brought a form for the gym, needing his signature. He STILL maintained that I wouldn't change my numbers with diet change. MANY years later, I still don't take those meds and my cholesterol is fine.
Another tried Fosamax for osteoporosis. After looking it up and reading much about it, no way!
I don't even do the flu shots or pneumonia shots - have never, ever had the flu and haven't had any kind of illness/cold in decades!
If she is in pain or uncomfortable, of course we act on it, but I no longer see the point of doing things that prolong her life. She would not want to live like this if she were in her right mind and I respect her wishes. To be clear, anything she needs to be comfortable we are doing.
On the other hand I have a 98 yr old mother in law who is in great health, still lives alone, plays bridge, drives, etc.... she still has quality of life and I wouldn't dream of suggesting she stop any of her "maintenance drugs" or routine.
To answer your questions, I think it depends on the person, their quality of life and their wishes. No set rules here.