What is a Medication Related Problem?
A medication-related problem is an event or situation involving drug therapy that negatively interferes with your health. Senior Care Pharmacists categorize medication-related problems can be categorized eight ways:
Untreated conditions: You have a medical condition that requires drug therapy but you are not receiving a drug for that condition.
Drug use without indication: You are taking a medication for no medically valid condition or reason.
Improper drug selection: Your medical condition is being treated with the wrong drug or a drug that is not the most appropriate for you specific special needs.
Subtherapeutic dosage: You have a medical problem that is being treated with too little of the correct medication.
Overdosage: You have a medical problem that is being treated with too much of the correct medication.
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs): You have a medical condition that is the result of an adverse drug reaction or adverse effect. In the case of older adults, ADRs contribute to already existing geriatric problems such as falls, urinary incontinence, constipation, and weight loss.
Drug interactions: You have a medical condition that is the result of a drug interacting negatively with another drug, food, or laboratory result.
Failure to receive medication: You have a medical condition that is the result of not receiving a medication due to economic, psychological, sociological, or pharmaceutical reasons.
These problems can cause, aggravate, or contribute to common and costly geriatric problems. Senior care pharmacists identify and prevent medication-related problems through careful evaluation and monitoring of your drug regimens.
