Medication Safety for Seniors: Avoiding Dangerous Interactions

Polypharmacy - taking 5 or more medications - is common among Canadian seniors and increases the risk of drug interactions, side effects, and hospitalization. Approximately 30% of Canadians aged 65+ take at least 5 prescription medications. Common risks include drug-drug interactions (e.g., blood thinners combined with NSAIDs can increase bleeding risk), side effects that mimic new conditions (dizziness from blood pressure medications can lead to falls), and medications that are inappropriate for older adults (the Beers Criteria lists medications that carry higher risks in seniors). Steps to improve medication safety: maintain one updated medication list (include prescriptions, OTC products, and supplements), use one pharmacy when possible (they track interactions), ask your physician or pharmacist to conduct a medication review annually, never stop medications abruptly without medical guidance, and report new symptoms after starting or changing medications. MedsCheck is a free pharmacist-led medication review program available in Ontario for patients taking 3 or more chronic medications. Other provinces offer similar programs. Deprescribing - safely reducing or stopping unnecessary medications - is an Important approach. Resources like deprescribing.org provide evidence-based guidance. A telehealth visit can include a medication review discussion. *This article is for informational purposes only.*

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Content reviewed by licensed Canadian physicians. Last updated February 2026.