Many elderly Americans take multiple prescription medications each day. Keeping track of these medications, their dosages, and the right time to take each of them can be a challenge for elderly patients. When an individual qualifies for free home healthcare services, his or her healthcare provider can ensure that he or she takes all of his or her prescriptions as necessary.
Below are the top 10 medications prescribed to elderly Americans.
Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone, which is often blended with acetaminophen, is a pain medication often sold under the brand names Lorcet, Norco, and Vicodin. Because of the risk of addiction associated with its use, Hydrocodone is only prescribed to patients suffering from severe pain.
Simvastatin
Simvastatin, commonly sold under the brand name Zocor, is a medication used to lower the number of triglycerides and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) present in a patient’s blood while raising the amount of HDL (“good cholesterol”) in his or her blood.
Lisinopril
Lisinopril, sold under the brand names Qbrelis, Zestril, and Prinivil, is an ACE inhibitor. It is prescribed to patients suffering from high blood pressure and congestive heart failure to reduce blood pressure by relaxing the patient’s blood vessels.
Levothyroxine
Levothyroxine is commonly sold under the brand name Synthroid. As its name implies, it is used to treat hypothyroidism, the condition that occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones and disrupts processes like metabolism and heart rate.
Amlodipine Besylate
Amlodipine Besylate is a blood pressure medication sold under the brand name Norvasc. Amlodipine Besylate is a calcium channel blocker, a type of drug that makes blood flow easier by slowing the heartbeat and decreasing each beat’s strength.
Omeprazole
Omeprazole, often sold under the names Prilosec OTC, Zegerid, and Zegerid OTC, is a proton-pump inhibitor used to treat heartburn, stomach ulcers, esophageal damage, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Azithromycin
Azithromycin is used to treat bacterial infections. Brand names for azithromycin include AzaSite, Zmax, and Zithromax. It is commonly used to treat pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections, and sinusitis.
Metformin
Metformin is a diabetes medication often sold under the names Glumetza, Fortamet, and Glucophage. It does not cure diabetes but helps patients manage their condition in conjunction with dietary changes.
Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide is a blood pressure medication often sold under the brand name Microzide. It is a diuretic, a type of drug often known as a “water pill,” that works by stimulating urine production to flush water and salt from the body.
Hire an Experienced Home Healthcare Worker to Care for your Loved One
Naturally, you want your loved one to have a caregiver who is qualified to provide the day-to-day support and medical supervision he or she needs. If your loved one qualifies for free home healthcare services under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) or the Department of Labor Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (DOL EEOICPA), contact our team at United Energy Workers Healthcare and Four Corners Health Care to schedule your initial consultation with us and learn more about your loved one’s options.