It is my practice to consult Consumer Reports before I make any major purchase, a car, a major appliance, or an electronic device. I am also consulting the magazine about my health. The September 20171 issue of Consumer Reports featured savings on TVs, ranges and refrigerators, used cars, computers, and printers. However, the banner headline on the cover asked, "Too Many Meds?" and the related article encouraged "consumers" to (1) assess their own drug and supplement use, (2) initiate discussions with providers on indications for usage as well as possible weaning strategies, and (3) engage in lifestyle changes that may obviate the need for prescription medication. The rise in prescription drug use in the United States from 1997 to 2016 was the most startling statistic reported; 2.4 billion prescriptions in 1997 to 4.4 billion in 2016, a near doubling. Related to this dramatic increase in prescriptions is the opioid epidemic, which has recently been declared a national emergency.
Insisting on a review of medications with one's provider is an essential first step in determining a drug's necessity. Several years ago, at a regular checkup, I complained about gastrointestinal reflux symptoms. My provider prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), which promptly stopped the reflux. I took the PPI once a day for several years until I learned of an association between the drug and the development of dementia with advancing age.2 After consultation with my physician, I am now 4 months into the PPI weaning process, which, although difficult, has prompted better dietary habits.
In an age when "consumers" are bombarded with messages of the magic of medication and the quick fix, it is heartening when a trusted, consumer-oriented journal such as Consumer Reports uses its reach to encourage consumers to think about their health in different ways, to enlist a thorough medication review with providers and to wean from unnecessary medications or those whose effects could be substituted with better health habits.
Self-responsibility is a cornerstone of living a holistic lifestyle and should be applied to medication management. If you are a patient, use the questions provided by Consumer Reports to frame a discussion with your provider. If you are a provider, use the questions to prepare for the inevitable-"consumers" taking a more active role in their own health.
-Gloria F. Donnelly, PhD, RN, FAAN, FCPP
Editor-in-Chief
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