A study conducted by the University of Michigan Geriatrics Center has found that more than 80 percent of adults age 57 and older take at least one prescription drug a day, and about half regularly mix drugs with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Although interactions between OTC and prescriptions drugs can be mild, about one in 25 older adults may experience a major drug interaction. To avoid unwanted side effects, researchers suggest having all prescription drugs filled at a single pharmacy, which allows the pharmacist to conduct a drug interaction check each time a new prescription is filled. Consulting a pharmacist periodically to ensure your drugs are not interacting with other drugs, researchers said, is also a good idea.
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