This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Always consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific situation.

Common Medication Reference — What the Most Prescribed Drugs Do

When your aging parent takes multiple medications, it helps to understand what each one does, what you might watch for, and why the doctor prescribed it in the first place. You don't need to become a pharmacist, but knowing whether a medication is for blood pressure or blood sugar—and understanding the general approach—helps you recognize problems, ask informed questions, and catch potential issues before they become serious.

This guide covers medications your parent might be taking for the most common conditions we see in aging. You'll find information about blood pressure medications, diabetes drugs, pain management, and sleep aids. When your parent starts a new medication, asking the pharmacist "What is this for, what are the main side effects, and what should I watch for?" is always appropriate. Pharmacists often have more time for these conversations than doctors do, and they're trained to answer exactly these questions.

Blood Pressure Medications: Lowering Numbers and Protecting the Heart

High blood pressure is one of the most common chronic conditions in aging. There are several classes of blood pressure medications, and each works a bit differently. A doctor might prescribe one medication or a combination.

ACE inhibitors (the name ends in "-il": lisinopril, enalapril, perindopril) and ARBs (the name ends in "-sartan": losartan, valsartan, olmesartan) work by relaxing blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily. Both classes also protect the kidneys, which matters for people with diabetes. Common side effects from ACE inhibitors include a dry cough. ARBs generally don't cause a cough, so if your parent develops one, switching from an ACE inhibitor to an ARB sometimes helps.

Beta-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, bisoprolol) slow the heart rate and reduce the force of contractions, which lowers blood pressure and makes the heart work less hard. These are especially helpful if your parent also has a heart condition or has had a heart attack. Potential side effects include fatigue, dizziness, and erectile dysfunction. Older adults sometimes experience dizziness with beta-blockers, particularly when standing up.

Calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, diltiazem, verapamil) relax blood vessels and slow the heart rate. They're useful if your parent has high blood pressure and a heart condition. Amlodipine can cause swelling in the ankles and feet, which shouldn't be confused with serious heart-related swelling. Diltiazem and verapamil slow the heart more significantly than amlodipine.

Diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone) work by increasing urination, which removes excess fluid and sodium. This lowers blood pressure. The downside is that they can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances in older adults, so periodic blood tests are important. If your parent takes a diuretic, they need adequate hydration and regular monitoring.

If your parent takes blood pressure medication, they should have their blood pressure monitored regularly. Sometimes as people age, blood pressure goals change. A blood pressure of 130/80 or lower is often the target, but for some people with multiple health conditions, slightly higher is appropriate. The doctor should explain what your parent's goal is and how you'll know if the medication is working.

Diabetes Medications: Managing Blood Sugar in Different Ways

Diabetes medications work through different mechanisms, and your parent might be taking one or a combination. Understanding the general approach helps you know why the doctor recommended a particular medication.

Metformin is usually the first medication for type 2 diabetes. It works by reducing the amount of glucose the liver produces and helping the body use glucose more effectively. It's well-tolerated but can cause gastrointestinal side effects,diarrhea, nausea, or heartburn,particularly when first started. Taking it with food often helps. Metformin also requires monitoring of kidney function through blood tests.

Sulfonylureas (glipizide, glyburide, glimepiride) stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. They're effective but carry a risk of low blood sugar, particularly in older adults, so regular blood glucose monitoring is important. Weight gain is a common side effect.

GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, once-weekly tirzepatide) are newer medications that work by making the body produce more insulin when blood sugar is high and slowing digestion. They're injected weekly and have the added benefit of often helping with weight loss. Nausea is common when first starting, though it usually improves. These medications have also shown cardiovascular benefits beyond just lowering blood sugar.

SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, canagliflozin) work by causing the kidney to excrete glucose in the urine. They're particularly useful if your parent also has heart disease or kidney disease, as they provide protection to both the heart and kidneys. They increase the risk of urinary tract infections and genital infections, so your parent should be aware of these symptoms.

If your parent takes insulin, it's typically because their body isn't producing enough insulin on its own. Insulin injections are given before meals or at bedtime depending on the type and regimen. Managing insulin requires careful coordination with diet and timing of meals, so if your parent moves to insulin, the doctor or a diabetes educator should explain the regimen clearly. Low blood sugar episodes are a risk with insulin, and your parent should know the signs: shakiness, sweating, confusion, rapid heartbeat.

Regular blood sugar monitoring helps determine if diabetes is well-controlled. The A1C blood test, done a few times a year, shows average blood sugar control over three months. The goal is usually between 7-8% for older adults, though the target varies based on overall health and other factors.

Pain Relievers: Over-the-Counter and Prescription Options

Pain management in older adults is complex because pain relievers come with different trade-offs, and some carry higher risks in aging.

Over-the-counter options include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Acetaminophen is generally safer in older adults, but taking too much (more than 3,000 mg per day) damages the liver. Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective for inflammation-related pain, but they increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney problems, and heart issues in older adults. If your parent takes an NSAID regularly, they should be on a medication to protect their stomach, and their kidney function should be monitored.

Prescription pain medications include opioids,oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine,and non-opioid options like tramadol or duloxetine. Opioids work well for severe pain but carry risks of dependence, constipation (a major problem for older adults), drowsiness, and falls. Opioids are appropriate for cancer pain or severe acute pain following surgery, but for chronic pain, doctors increasingly try other approaches first because of addiction and side effect risks.

Non-opioid prescription options include duloxetine (an antidepressant that also treats pain) and topical creams. Duloxetine is helpful for nerve pain (neuropathy) related to diabetes. Topical creams contain NSAIDs or other pain-relieving ingredients and are absorbed through the skin, allowing pain relief with less systemic absorption than oral medications.

Physical therapy and non-medication approaches,heat, ice, gentle movement,are important parts of pain management in older adults. Pain that's suddenly new and severe warrants a doctor visit to rule out serious causes, but chronic pain often improves with a combination of approaches.

Sleep Aids: Approaches to Nighttime Rest and Long-Term Management

Sleep problems are common in aging, and while sleep medication can help short-term, long-term management focuses on habits and occasional medication rather than nightly reliance.

Over-the-counter options include diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and doxylamine (Unisom). These are antihistamines, and they work by causing drowsiness. However, they're not recommended for older adults because they can cause confusion, dizziness, and urinary retention. If your parent is taking these nightly, a conversation with their doctor about safer alternatives is worth having.

Prescription sleep medications include melatonin (not technically prescription, but sometimes recommended by doctors), benzodiazepines like lorazepam or temazepam, and non-benzodiazepine "z-drugs" like zolpidem (Ambien) or zaleplon (Sonata). Benzodiazepines carry risks of dependence and falls in older adults, so they're typically recommended for short-term use only. Z-drugs are somewhat safer but still carry fall and dependence risks.

Melatonin is a hormone the body produces naturally to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Supplemental melatonin is generally safer for older adults than prescription sleep medications and is often recommended for short-term use. The typical dose is 0.5 to 2 mg an hour before bed.

Long-term sleep management focuses on habits: consistent bedtime and wake times, limiting caffeine (particularly after midday), avoiding large meals close to bedtime, and exercising during the day (but not close to bedtime). If your parent has sleep apnea (waking briefly repeatedly throughout the night), treating the underlying apnea improves sleep more effectively than sleep medication.

When your parent is taking multiple medications, interactions become a concern. Every medication visit should include a review of what they're taking, whether it's still necessary, and whether there are any interactions. Pharmacists are excellent resources for this review and often catch potential problems that doctors might miss. Your parent's pharmacy can review all their medications and flag interactions, side effects, or duplicates. Taking advantage of this is good preventive care.

How To Help Your Elders is an informational resource for families working through aging and elder care. We are not medical professionals, attorneys, or financial advisors. The information provided here is for educational purposes and should not replace professional consultation. Every family's situation is unique, and rules, costs, and availability vary by location and circumstance.