Posted 10/23/2009
Comments on Michael Jackson’s Death
He had the equivalent of a fatal disease: absurd medical care
By Eli Goodman, MD
No reasonable physician(s) under any circumstance would prescribe for any patient the collection of nonsensical, extremely dangerous pharmacological drivel to which the unfortunate Jackson found himself subject. It is a mystery and a tragedy that Jackson would entrust his medical care to such quackery. Read More >>
Posted 05/26/2009
New Tool Helps Manage Multiple Meds
Identify potential drug interactions
By Patricia Grace
Move over “aging in place” and make room for “polypharmacy,” the newest
buzz phrase in the senior services industry. Polypharmacy generally
refers to the use of multiple medications by a patient, often when they
are not clinically warranted. Many seniors have multiple physicians who
might not be aware of all the medications each patient is taking. When
a new prescription is written without that knowledge, harmful drug
interactions or changes in effectiveness could occur.
Polypharmacy is most common among people over age 65. Approximately one-fifth of them take at least 10 medications a week. The Institute of Medicine estimates that at least 1.5 million adverse drug events occur in the United States every year, thousands of them fatal. Studies indicate that about one-third of these drug reactions among senior citizens—and 42% of serious, life-threatening, or fatal events—are preventable.
Read More >>
Polypharmacy is most common among people over age 65. Approximately one-fifth of them take at least 10 medications a week. The Institute of Medicine estimates that at least 1.5 million adverse drug events occur in the United States every year, thousands of them fatal. Studies indicate that about one-third of these drug reactions among senior citizens—and 42% of serious, life-threatening, or fatal events—are preventable.
Read More >>
Posted 03/26/2009
What Is Polypharmacy?
No drug is completely risk free
By Eli Goodman, MD
Polypharmacy simply means too many prescription drugs. It is a legitimate diagnosis, and it is itself a disease state—one that physicians should more frequently assess and more frequently try to help their patients avoid.
While appropriately used pharmaceutical agents are beneficial and often life saving, NONE are completely risk free. The very first fact one learns on the first day of medical school (and one of the most important concepts in all of medicine) is this: "Any medicine can cause any side effect, at any time"—even months after its discontinuation.
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