Before treating an elderly patient's symptoms with a medication, ascertain whether the symptom may be caused by another medication.
For example, patients on multiple medications often experience dizziness, and are then prescribed meclizine (Antivert®, Bonine®).
Adding more medications may actually worsen the patient's overall functioning.
A better alternative might be to discontinue a medication that can cause dizziness.
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- Ascertain whether patient's symptom may be caused by another medication.
- Try discontinuing a medication that can cause patient's symptom.
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