Alien Navel Cord Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 What can I expect from my medications when I turn 60? 70? 80? 90? 100? What do they take you off of, are you just off all psych meds? What works when you're a senior citizen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 In general the assumption is older folk don't metabolize drugs as well, so starting doses are lowered and dose escalation is slower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterRosie Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 My grandmother, who had been on Valium for around 30 years, found that she didn't need it anymore and discontinued it in her early 80s; her doctor offered up clonazepam but my grandmother didn't seem to need that either. It's like, as she aged, her brain couldn't go fast enough to maintain the anxiety anymore. It slowed down, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 59 minutes ago, notloki said: In general the assumption is older folk don't metabolize drugs as well, so starting doses are lowered and dose escalation is slower. I agree. I've been told/have read about this too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Navel Cord Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 So they are still on medication just smaller doses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 2 hours ago, Alien Navel Cord said: So they are still on medication just smaller doses? From what I've read, yes. (I googled "elderly lower dose meds") Here is one of the articles: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/older-people’s-health-issues/aging-and-drugs/aging-and-drugs Quote Because of these age-related changes, many drugs tend to stay in an older person’s body much longer, prolonging the drug’s effect and increasing the risk of side effects. Therefore, older people often need to take smaller doses of certain drugs or perhaps fewer daily doses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Navel Cord Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Ok cool. I don't want to be off my meds, ever. It is very important I stay on them. I didn't want to end up in a care facility when I'm 80 in the psych ward. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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