Slow Pharmacy

I just read an interesting review of a new book titled, My Mother, Your Mother: Embracing "Slow Medicine."

The author, Dennis McCullough, is a physician in private practice with decades of experience in community, family and geriatric medicine. Dr. McCullough is also a medical school professor who believes in traditional medicine but who in "slow medicine" also advocates the incorporation of humanistic values, complementary, and alternative therapies.

As the review continues, slow medicine is a "family-centered, less-expensive way shaped by habits of cooperation, coordination, and conservation of limited resources" and is "a special commitment undertaken by families and health professionals working together to achieve the very fullest understanding of aging loved ones and their complex, ever-evolving needs."

"Slow Medicine" is an interesting and humanistic concept that considers the elders' wishes and treats them with the respect they most certainly deserve.

I'd like to suggest that a component of slow medicine be called "Slow Pharmacy."

So often the elderly are bombarded with a myriad of medications all at once without giving adequate assessment of the positive, or often negative impact they are having on the patient.

A popular mantra in geriatric pharmacy is "start low and go slow." That is, start out with a small dosage of a new medication and wait to see how it is working. Only then, if the effects are beneficial, a gradual increase in dosage might be warranted.

I believe that "Slow Pharmacy" is an important component of "Slow Medicine" and I'm looking forward to reading this book.

William Simonson, PharmD, FASCP, CGP
http://www.askdrsi.com/