Drug combo puts seniors in grave danger America is one of the most over-medicated societies on the planet. So is it any wonder that adverse drug interactions in people over 65 result in more than 175,000 emergency room visits every year? Study author Dima M. Qato from the University of Chicago says that nearly 30 percent of seniors are taking at least five prescription medications. Add to this the pervasiveness of over-the-counter drugs, and you'll see that drug interactions are ticking time bombs. According to Qato, pharmacists are often the last line of defense for many of these elderly, and he encourages them to ask older patients about ALL the medications they use. "This is especially important in patients who see multiple providers and patients that fill at multiple pharmacies," Qato said. According to Qato's research, one of the most common and potentially deadly drug combos discovered in this new study was blood thinners with aspirin. And I bet I know why: many people these days hardly even consider aspirin a "drug." It's no stretch to think that many would take their prescription blood thinner like warfarin in the morning, and then pop a couple of aspirin in the afternoon without giving it a second thought. But by doubling up on two blood thinning-drugs, the risk of bleeding goes through the roof. And it's not just the combination of prescription drugs with over-the-counter drugs - it's dietary supplements, too. Even Gingko with aspirin can jack up the potential for bleeding. There's much talk of putting a better system in place to alleviate this problem. But at the end of the day, it's on you - the patient - to act as your own advocate and ask the right questions. Healthy coke. Now there's an oxymoron for you. The idea that you could get the vitamins and minerals you need by drinking a glass of Coke is ludicrous to me. Looks like the FDA isn't buying it either. After a year on the market, Diet Coke Plus - the version of the soft drink that's supposed to contain vitamins and minerals - is about to get a facelift. The FDA recently called on soft drink giant Coca Cola to revise the label on its Diet Coke Plus product, saying that the product doesn't have enough vitamins or minerals to legally use the term "plus" on the label. The FDA maintains that it's inappropriate to fortify snack foods and carbonated beverages. I have a sneaking suspicion that anyone who buys into the idea that they can get anything healthy out of that carbonated, syrupy sludge - especially the diet variety - doesn't care what's on the label. Fortunately, there aren't too many out there. The Diet Coke Plus brand hasn't sold well since its inception. Hopefully this regulation will spell the beginning of the end for this ridiculous product. | 
