Could the medications meant to help your loved one actually be harming their mind? For seniors with dementia, this isn’t a hypothetical question; it’s a critical, often-overlooked reality. A confusing cocktail of prescriptions, driven by a common yet dangerous practice called polypharmacy, can silently worsen confusion, agitation, and memory loss.
Navigating this hidden risk requires a specialist’s lens, but the path to clarity is within reach. Understanding how to partner with a geriatric expert could be the key to simplifying their regimen, sharpening their cognition, and restoring a vital sense of calm.
Sponsored by Geriatric Academy
Overmedication in the older adult population is a significant healthcare crisis. In fact, overmedication, or polypharmacy in medical terms, is the 5th leading cause of death among older adults in the United States.
An older adult taking at least five medications has a 50% chance of having an adverse drug reaction and being hospitalized – and the risks increase when someone with dementia is overmedicated.
For example, many prescription and over-the-counter medications actually worsen dementia.
Unfortunately, this issue is rarely discussed.
Many older adults and their families are unaware of the potential dangers of polypharmacy and the profound effects on someone with dementia, which are largely preventable.
Imagine if you:
- Have trustworthy information about your loved one’s medication and feel confident that they’re taking the right drug and dosage
- Have guidance from a trusted clinical expert to help you evaluate medications
- Are an empowered, informed advocate for your loved one
- Are better able to help your loved one live independently with a good quality of life for as long as possible
What is Polypharmacy?
Polypharmacy is the clinical term for when a person is taking multiple medications (often five or more) concurrently. While sometimes necessary, this practice becomes risky when the complex interactions between drugs, or between drugs and the aging body, are not carefully managed.
In seniors, especially those with dementia, polypharmacy can dramatically increase the risk of severe side effects like dizziness, confusion, and falls. The brain becomes a vulnerable battlefield where sedatives, bladder medications, and even over-the-counter allergy pills can inadvertently worsen cognitive symptoms, turning a well-intentioned treatment plan into a source of decline.
How Overmedication Can Make Dementia Worse
Many older adults take diphenhydramine, a seemingly safe and common over-the-counter sleep aid (Benadryl is a familiar brand).
But if they have dementia, this is by far one of the worst drugs to take.
Dementia is a general umbrella term used to describe a group of brain-degenerative diseases that cause a decline in memory, thinking, and essential bodily functions. Many of us are familiar with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia that accounts for 60-80% of all diagnosed cases.
Because diphenhydramine works in the brain, it reduces the function of an important brain chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that’s used for learning, memory, and muscle functions.
Older adults already have less acetylcholine because our bodies produce less of it as we age.
On top of that, blocking it with drugs makes it even harder for instructions to get delivered.
So, when someone with dementia takes a drug like diphenhydramine that limits acetylcholine, it worsens dementia symptoms – or even causes dementia-like symptoms in older adults without dementia.
This medication is just one example of many drugs that can worsen dementia.
Prevent Overmedication and Medication Errors in Dementia
The good news is that overmedication can be fixed. The key is education and self-empowerment.
If you know what to look out for and the questions to ask healthcare providers, then you can ADVOCATE for your loved one and yourself.
As a board-certified clinical pharmacist specializing in Geriatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Neurodegenerative diseases, I want to help families caring for older adults with dementia feel informed and confident when making medication decisions.
So I poured my years of direct experience working with older adults living with dementia and their overmedication concerns into an eBook called How to Manage Medication Challenges and Dementia in the Elderly: Guidance from a Geriatric Clinician.
I wrote this book for you – older adults and family caregivers, regular people who want information and guidance from a trained healthcare professional without all of the complex and confusing medical terms.
My eBook has clear, readable, and actionable information that you can use TODAY to help your loved one (and yourself) minimize adverse drug-related reactions and stay independent at home for as long as possible.
Plus, get exclusive access to a private Facebook community where I’ll share even more medication tips and insights from relevant medical cases. I’ll also occasionally host free online talks with geriatric specialists.
Our Facebook community is also a safe place to build relationships with other like-minded people and ask me questions.
Why Does Polypharmacy Occur?
Surveys estimate that polypharmacy occurs in approximately 1 in 3 older adults in the U.S., and half of these older adults are also using nonprescription medications.
Factors that contribute to polypharmacy:
- Inappropriate prescribing of medications – wrong medication or dose, not identifying drug interactions, not medically necessary, etc.
- Having multiple medical providers who each prescribe their own set of medications increases the medication burden without a clear benefit.
- Medical providers are hesitant to stop a medication prescribed by another provider for fear of “stepping on their toes,” even if it’s not in the patient’s best interests.
- Failure of pharmacists to identify potentially inappropriate medications, dosing, interactions, etc.
- The normal aging process – older bodies aren’t able to break down and eliminate drugs as well as younger bodies.
- Increased prevalence of chronic illness in older adults, like diabetes, heart failure, and high blood pressure, which increases the risk of adverse drug events
- Unnecessary or dangerous supplements and over-the-counter medications
Be Aware of Possible Signs of Polypharmacy
When health symptoms come up, one possibility is that an adverse reaction to a medication or a combination of drugs causes them.
If your loved one (or you) is experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s essential to rule out a drug-related adverse event as the cause:
- Falls
- Loss of appetite
- Dizziness
- Confusion or brain fog
- Tremors
- Anxiety or depression
- Sleep problems
- Urinary and bowel incontinence
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Memory impairment or difficulty concentrating
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Drastic changes in mood
Important: While these may be drug-related adverse reactions, other medical problems can also cause these symptoms. Always get evaluated by a medical professional to determine the actual cause of your health issues.
Final Thoughts About Polypharmacy Issues and How to Avoid Them
Taking action on overmedication is one of the most powerful steps you can take to protect your loved one’s quality of life. By seeking a geriatric medication review, you are not questioning their doctors but advocating for a care plan that prioritizes the brain’s delicate chemistry.
This proactive move can lead to fewer side effects, clearer thinking, and a renewed sense of stability. Your vigilance in this complex area doesn’t just manage symptoms; it actively honors their dignity and paves the way for more peaceful and connected days.
About Geriatric Academy: Founded by a board-certified clinical pharmacist specializing in Geriatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Neurodegenerative diseases, the Geriatric Academy strives to educate and empower older adults and their caregivers to take charge of their medication management, reduce adverse drug events, continue to live independently at home, and optimize their therapeutic alliance with their healthcare providers.
Geriatric Academy sponsors this article. For more information, see How We Make Money.
About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
