# For those over 50, how many prescription drugs do you take? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674 "2020-10-10T23:52:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/1 "2020-10-10T23:52:21Z")
I’m in my late 60’s and take an antidepressant I’ve used for decades. I pride myself on not being on any “old age” drugs, although doctors have wanted me to take a statin for years. ☹ I have some friends in their nineties who don’t take any meds at all. How many of you are like them? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/2 "2020-10-10T23:54:02Z")
Zero. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/3 "2020-10-10T23:55:41Z")
I’m 63 and take a few meds. An antistatin. As I have kidney disease, I take a binder which helps me to eliminate phosphorous found in food, and Furosemide, which helps me make more urine. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/4 "2020-10-11T00:06:29Z")
Three - two for my AFib, warfarin and something to regulate my heart, and a kind of synthroid. Half my thyroid got removed 30 years ago. I’m 68. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/5 "2020-10-11T00:27:22Z")
I’ll be 62 on the 20th of next month. I’m taking no prescription drugs and the only other drug I take at the moment is OTC Tylenol for the first day or two when I transition to the next set of aligners for my teeth. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/6 "2020-10-11T00:30:28Z")
Three, plus a prescription 800mg Motrin as needed for arthritis, which you can count or not. None are needed to keep me alive. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/7 "2020-10-11T00:33:26Z")
Ah, thanks for reminding me, **DrDeth**. I also take one each lutein pill, B12 pill, and multivitamin every day. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/8 "2020-10-11T00:38:43Z")
I take one pill per day, but I’ve been taking it (in varying doses) since. Was in my mid 30s. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/9 "2020-10-11T00:46:18Z")
When I was 60 I took none. I started on a cancer drug and a drug to counteract side effects of the first one at age 68. Just this summer they started me on two high blood pressure drugs – also a side effect of the cancer drug. Cancer sucks. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/10 "2020-10-11T00:48:09Z")
I’m 55. I’m on daily doses of six meds: - Four to directly or indirectly help treat my type 2 diabetes - Two to treat my allergy to dust mites ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/11 "2020-10-11T00:48:32Z")
Fuck me. I just turned 75, and take nine Rx drugs per day, plus insulin. Diabetes is a bitch, and effects _everything._ ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/12 "2020-10-11T00:54:40Z")
I’m fairly healthy and active (although a little above my ideal weight). Nevertheless, I take a number of prescription drugs to keep various things under control: - Two blood pressure medications - A statin - Allergy medicine (Zyrtec and Flonase) - Omeprazole (Prilosec) for acid reflux - Vitamin D, since I just found out that I’m deficient I talked to my doctor about possibly taking something for ADD, but she didn’t want to add yet another drug, plus many of them can increase blood pressure as a side effect. Plus she figures I’ve made it this far in life. > [@cochrane](#): > > An antistatin. 😉 You’re probably taking a statin, not an antistatin. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/13 "2020-10-11T00:57:52Z")
Just turned 64, two meds for high blood pressure, one for…um…unspecified psychological treatment. (No, not pot for funsies!) ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/14 "2020-10-11T01:00:03Z")
As many as possible. Whatcha got? ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/15 "2020-10-11T01:01:41Z")
I’m sorry, OldGuy. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/16 "2020-10-11T01:04:31Z")
Zero. Until back surgery 2 years ago, I took lots of gabapentin. Now, nothing. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/17 "2020-10-11T01:05:10Z")
54, no prescription meds. I do take OTC anti-hay fever meds pretty much every day Spring-Autumn, and Vitamin D/calcium supplements on the advice of my doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/18 "2020-10-11T01:11:11Z")
One - Lexipro to keep me on an even keel. Two - if you count my medical marijuana card, which I use for … various ailments. I’m fifty-five. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/19 "2020-10-11T01:16:03Z")
I take a bunch. Lessee. Five. I take five. But all of them are related to lupus, none to old age stuff…yet. And I just turned 64. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674/20 "2020-10-11T01:30:23Z")
The only prescription medication I take is atorvastatin. However, my physician has also ordered me to take Vitamin D and fish oil supplements, so it’s three if I count those. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-over-50-how-many-prescription-drugs-do-you-take/922674.md?page=2)