Longevity & AgingWhen Medications Turn Into Poison for Older Adults
Dr. Brad Stanfield explains how medications that benefit younger adults can become harmful as we age, with over 40% of adults over 75 taking five or more medications. He presents three detailed patient cases showing his deprescribing approach: an 80-year-old successfully taken off aspirin and omeprazole, a frail woman whose fall-risk medications were causing dangerous low sodium levels, and a diabetic whose aggressive blood sugar control was creating hypoglycemia risks. Key insights include aspirin's bleeding risks outweighing benefits for primary prevention in older adults, how certain medication combinations cause hyponatremia and increase fall risk, and why looser blood sugar targets are safer for frail elderly patients.
