Right to free medicines in 2020

From this article you will learn:

Why you should be careful when buying medications for older people
What situation does an elderly patient face when he takes all the medications prescribed by the doctor?
What side effects can there be from self-medication?
Why sleeping pills are dangerous for older people
How to choose the right blood pressure medications for older people
When should you buy medications if an elderly person has constipation?
Which drugs are for dizziness in older people, and which, on the contrary, cause them?

Medicines for older people help to get rid of many problems caused by the natural aging process. However, not all of them are safe for grandparents. This should be kept in mind when choosing drugs to improve memory for older people, because the wrong drug can only worsen your relative’s condition.

Why you should be careful when buying medications for older people

Unfortunately, many older people face multiple illnesses. Because of this, the doctor prescribes not one, but several medications at once. Each specialist, as a rule, prescribes two medications, and an elderly person has a whole list of diseases. Therefore, he has to take various medications for older people at the same time, the quantity of which often exceeds 10 items per day.

Read material on the topic: Treatment of the elderly

In the US and UK, older people account for one third of all medications prescribed by doctors. Dr. Schneider, who works at Salt Lake City University Hospital, believes that the simultaneous administration of many medications causes an increase in health problems, because patients experience adverse reactions, and many of them begin to abuse the drugs. By the way, the phenomenon associated with the fact that a patient is prescribed numerous medications for older people is called polypharmacy .

Of course, medications for older people help cope with illness and improve the quality of life for many patients. However, the main problem is that pharmaceutical companies have unlimited access to the media , and many of us have little understanding of medical issues and choose drugs for the elderly simply by trusting such advertising.

As a rule, no side effects are mentioned, and the effect of the drug is not confirmed in any way. Companies use various marketing tactics to attract the attention of customers , show the advantages of the drug and conceal information about its possible disadvantages.

The question of how to regulate the consumption of drugs and their marketing has been raised repeatedly by the World Health Organization , which is expressed in a report on the issues of drug provision for the elderly. This document describes recommendations on how drugs should be prescribed for older people and is relevant to member countries.

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How to get medications?

You can get medicine for free or at a discount only with a doctor's prescription. The doctor will write a prescription if necessary for medical reasons.

You need to contact those medical organizations (city hospitals, clinics, dispensaries) where doctors have the right to write preferential prescriptions. You can clarify the list of such organizations by calling the hotline of the Moscow State Budgetary Institution of Healthcare “Center for Drug Supply of the Moscow City Health Department”: +7.

Federal beneficiaries who permanently reside outside of Moscow can receive a preferential prescription from a Moscow medical organization. To do this they need to present:

identification document;
a document confirming the right to receive a set of social services;
decision on the appointment of a monthly cash payment issued by the Pension Fund of Russia;
an extract from the medical record of an outpatient or the history of the child’s development indicating SNILS.

On the recipe there is an o in the upper right corner.

What situation does a patient find himself in when taking all prescribed medications?

Older people usually from several chronic diseases , and each of them needs to be treated, that is, the doctor prescribes medications for blood pressure for older people, to improve memory, heart medications, and others. Thus, an elderly person has to take many medications, which often causes side effects;
Many people take medications for older people without following the dosage regimen or required dosage . Of course, if you need to take a large number of drugs that are in similar jars, then you can get confused. In addition, many medications, such as heart medications, are not always easy for older people to open because they have inconvenient packaging;
Grandparents rarely realize why they are taking certain medications for older people;
The functions of the kidneys and liver are often impaired , but they are responsible for the fact that medicinal substances are processed and excreted. If your elderly relative is taking medications for the elderly, it is important to make sure that the dosage is selected by the doctor on an individual basis, that is, the functions of the internal organs that ensure the safe elimination of the drug are taken into account.
The result of therapy is determined by what medications are taken for older people. However, many elderly people prescribe medications “to themselves” or respond to advertising or advice from girlfriends. Of course, the risk of side effects in such a situation increases significantly.

What side effects may occur in older people taking medications:

unpredictable reactions to medications in older adults are one of the 10 most common causes of death;
many adverse drug reactions can be prevented;
Unexpected drug reactions occur all over the world;
Unfortunately, statistics show that the costs associated with such reactions to medications for older people (hospitalization, surgery, consequences of disability) are higher than the cost of treatment.

If you are interested in memory restoration in older people, medications should be chosen very carefully. However, taking any medicine carries a risk of side effects, which can even lead to the death of the patient . About 20% of patients in the nursing ward end up there precisely because of an undesirable reaction to one of the medications, for example, drugs that improve memory in older people. As a rule, old people react to taking diuretics , psychotropic drugs , sleeping pills , etc.

Read the material on the topic: Sleep disturbance in older people

According to statistics, adverse reactions become noticeable two weeks after starting to take the drug. However, 9 out of 10 situations are life threatening. By the way, side effects can also occur due to abrupt discontinuation of use . This happens especially often if the patient stops taking sleeping pills for the elderly based on benzodiazepine and its derivatives.

Receipt procedure

Preferential drugs are prescribed by the treating specialist and are issued by prescription in pharmacies affiliated with the regional authorities of the Ministry of Health.

In addition, in order to obtain the right to benefits, you will need to provide the required papers to the territorial PF or social security department.

Required documents

To confirm your right to preferential medications, you will need to provide the following set of documentation:

Passport or other identification that replaces it.
SNILS card.
Papers confirming the preferential category. Their list varies depending on the basis for receiving benefits - a veteran, a disabled person, a young child.
An extract from the patient's medical record.

How long is the prescription valid?

The validity period of a preferential prescription written by a treating specialist is usually 1 calendar month .

But in some cases, its duration is longer:

90 days if it is issued to a person of retirement age or a disabled person.
180 days when medicines are intended for patients with chronic diseases.

When the shelf life of the medicine does not exceed 10 days, several prescriptions are issued simultaneously to ensure continuous therapy. They are presented to the pharmacy as previously purchased drugs are used up.

Prescriptions may also have special doctor’s notes:

Statim (Latin – “immediately”). Medicines for this prescription must be dispensed within the same day.
Cito (Latin – “urgent”). Such medications are provided to the patient within a maximum of two days.

For products for which the prescription does not have special notes, the maximum issuance period is no more than 5 days.

Which pharmacies can you get it from?

Preferential medications are issued at specialized pharmacies located in municipal medical institutions. They can also be obtained from private pharmacies that cooperate with the Ministry of Health as part of the drug benefit program.

The list of discounted pharmacies can be found by going to the website of the regional branch of the Ministry of Health.

What to do if there are no medications in the pharmacy

When a prescribed drug is not available at a pharmacy, the pharmacist enters it into a specialized order register. After making an appointment, this medication should be delivered to the pharmacy in the near future.

deadlines for this :

10 days – for drugs from the federal list.
15 days – for drugs included in regional lists, or prescribed by a medical commission.

Elena Smirnova

Pension lawyer, ready to answer your questions.

Ask me a question

When the prescription expires during the time it takes to deliver the missing medications, you will not need to get a new one. Instead of waiting for the necessary drug to appear, the patient has the right to apply for it at another discounted pharmacy.

Why are sleeping pills dangerous for older people?

If you talk to old women who are registered with a neurologist, you will find out that the problem of insomnia is solved by sleeping pills for older people, for example, “ Phenazepam ”.

In the United States, mild tranquilizers are taken by older people every day, and there are more than a million of these grandparents. There is no evidence that sleeping pills for older people remain effective when taken over a long period. In addition, they cause a feeling of confusion and impair memory . By the way, “Phenazepam” remains in the blood of an elderly person throughout the day.

Who prescribes subsidized drugs?

You can obtain information about the list of free drugs from your attending physician or a representative of the company that pays for the treatment. The specialist prescribes subsidized drugs according to the patient’s current medical indications, after which the prescription is certified by the head of the department.

The prescription contains information about how long it is valid. If the drug is not available, then it can be replaced with a similar drug. If there is no similar option, then the validity period of the prescription increases, and the pharmacy undertakes to dispense the necessary medicine within the next 10 days.

Finally, if the client has lost his prescription or needs long-term treatment, he receives a second certificate from the clinic specialist. Sometimes a seriously ill person does not have the opportunity to independently go to the pharmacy and purchase the necessary medication. In this case, another person can purchase the prescription medication - for example, a loved one or someone caring for the patient.

Which blood pressure medications to buy for older people

High blood pressure is one of the most common problems among older people.
This condition requires treatment, otherwise the quality of life in old age will leave much to be desired. Only a doctor can prescribe blood pressure medications for older people after he analyzes the test results.

It is known that older people have conservative views on any life phenomenon, including treatment. If you look in your grandmother's medicine cabinet, you will find numerous blood pressure medications for older people, the list of which will definitely surprise you. You will see other remedies: “ Corvalol ”, “ Citramon ”, “ Validol ”, etc. By the way, much of what you discover was prescribed by your grandmother “for herself”.

If you are horrified by looking at your home medicine cabinet, we recommend that you visit the clinic with your relative and discuss with your doctor what medications he is taking for the elderly.

" Adelfa " and " Clonidine " are popular among older people suffering from high blood pressure. However, these blood pressure medications for older people clearly do not deserve such love. They have a large number of side effects and are addictive. By the way, in modern medicine, drugs for older people such as clonidine are used only in cases where it is absolutely necessary.

Many people mistakenly believe that blood pressure medications for older people should be taken only when the blood pressure rises. This is wrong. The intake must be constant , because medicinal substances act on the principle of gradual accumulation in the body.

Read material on the topic: Tonometers for the elderly

Tell your elderly relative that high blood pressure can be caused by a phenomenon such as atherosclerosis, that is, age-related vascular pathology. Therefore, doctors prescribe not only blood pressure medications for older people, but also statins and anticoagulants. If a specialist has prescribed Atorvastatin and Aspicard, then this cannot be neglected.

" Aspicard " thins the blood and prevents stroke.
" Atorvastatin " fights atherosclerotic plaques and increases the elasticity of blood vessels.

List of preferential medications

The list of subsidized drugs includes vital drugs, and now their number is 93. These include hormonal drugs, antitumor drugs, and antidepressant drugs. So, the following medications are classified as preferential medications.

Analgesics:

Acetylsalicylic acid;
Thebaine;
Panadol and Paracetamol;
Codeine;
Karkotin;
Trimeperidine;
Ibuprofen;
Ketorolac;
Morphine;
Papaverine;
Ketoprofen;
Diclofenac.

Antiparkinsonian drugs:

Carbidol;
Levodopa;
Amantadine;
Benserazide;
Trihexyphenidyl.

Antiepileptic drugs:

Oxcarbazepine;
Clonazepam;
Benzobarbital;
Carbamazepine;
Phenobarbital;
Topiramate;
Valproic acid;
Penicillamine;
Ethosuximide;
Hydrochloroquine.

Psychoanaleptic drugs:

Ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate;
Betahistine;
Amitriptyline;
Fluoxetine;
Aminophenylbutyric acid;
Tizanidine;
Clomipramine;
Pipofezin;
Vinpocetine;
Glycine;
Sertraline;
Imipramine;
Piracetam;
Paroxetine.

Psycholeptic drugs:

Zuclopenthixol;
Sulpiride;
Trifluoperazine;
Diazepam;
Haloperridol;
Periciazine;
Thioridazine;
Oxazepam;
Quetiapine;
Risperidone;
Chlorpromazine;
Flupenthixol;
Olanzapine;
Fluphenazine.

Anti-infectives:

Benzyl benzoate;
Azithromycin;
Doxycycline;
Clarithromycin;
Metronidazole;
Ciprofloxacin;
Tetracycline;
Sulfasalazine;
Acyclovir;
Fluconazole;
Amoxicillin;
Cefuroxime;
Tiloron;
Benzathine benzylpenicillin;
Clotrimazole;
Cephalexin.

Anticholinesterase drugs:

Neostigmine methyl sulfate;
Pyridostigmine bromide.

Antitumor agents:

Hydroxyurea;
Azathioprine;
Busulfan;
Tamoxifen;
Mercaptopurine;
Medroxyprogesterone;
Melphalan;
Anastrozole;
Methotrexate;
Flutamide;
Cyclophosphamide;
Mitomycin;
Interferon alpha-2a;
Interferon alpha-2b.

Medicines intended for blood clotting:

Clopidogrel;
Heparin sodium;
Pentoxifylline;
Warfarin.

Medicines that strengthen the skeletal system of the body:

Calcitonin;
Alendronic acid;
Alfacalcidol;
Colecalciferol.

Medicines that improve bowel function:

Metoclopramide;
Sennosides A and B;
Omeprazole;
Lactulose;
Drotaverine;
Pancreatin;
Bisacodyl;
Dioctahedral smectite.

Drugs for the treatment of heart disease:

Lappaconitine hydrobromide;
Captopril;
Digoxin;
Lisinopril;
Amiodarone;
Perindopril;
Sotalol;
Methyldopa;
Isosorbide mononitrate;
Clonidine;
Isosorbide dinitrate;
Potassium and magnesium aspartate;
Nitroglycerine;
Spironolactone;
Bisoprolol;
Furosemide;
Atenolol;
Indapamide;
Metoprolol;
Hydrochlorothiazide;
Carvedilol;
Acetazolamide;
Verapamil;
Ivabradine;
Amlodipine;
Atorvastatin;
Nifedipine;
Simvastatin;
Losartan;
Moxonidine.

Medicines for people diagnosed with diabetes:

Gliclazide;
Metformin;
Glibenclamide;
Repaglinide;
Glucagon;
Insulin lispro biphasic;
Insulin aspart biphasic;
Insulin aspart;
Insulin is soluble;
Insulin isophane;
Insulin detemir;
Insulin lispro;
Insulin glargine;
Biphasic insulin;
Insulin glulisine.

Hormonal drugs, drugs for the thyroid gland of the body:

Dexamethasone;
Allopurinol;
Betamethasone;
Thiamazole;
Hydrocortisone;
Bromocriptine;
Methylprednisolone;
Levothyroxine sodium;
Methylprednisolone aceponate;
Desmopressin;
Prednisolone;
Fludrocortisone.

Drugs for the treatment of kidney diseases:

Finasteride;
Cyclosporine;
Tamsulosin;
Doxazosin.

Medicines against asthma:

Beclomethasone;
Ambroxol;
Aminophylline;
Acetylcysteine;
Budesonide;
Tiotropium bromide;
Beclomethasone + Formoterol;
Formoterol;
Ipratropium bromide + fenoterol;
Salbutamol.

Ophthalmic products:

Pilocarpine;
Timolol.

Antihistamines:

Chloropyramine;
Loratadine;
Cetirizine.

What blood pressure medications are most often prescribed by doctors to older people?

ACE inhibitors

This includes Lisinopril, Berlipril, etc., the effects of which begin three hours after administration. Of course, such blood pressure medications for older people should be taken systematically at the same time. Medicines help stabilize blood pressure levels, but act on the principle of a cumulative effect. If an elderly person takes the medicine occasionally, there will not be a significant result.

Diuretics

Only a specialist can select such blood pressure medications for older people. Diuretics should be taken on an empty stomach, in the morning, and this should also be done systematically. The effect of the medicine is that it prevents excess fluid from retaining and swelling.

As a rule, the doctor prescribes potassium-sparing diuretics for blood pressure for older people (Indapamide, Diuver). By the way, patients suffering from gout should not be prescribed thiazide diuretics, as they can cause an exacerbation of the pathology.

Beta blockers

These blood pressure medications for older people should be taken strictly systematically! You cannot increase/decrease the dosage at your own discretion or stop taking it altogether. Such medications have a strong withdrawal syndrome, that is, if an elderly person forgets to take the pill, then a crisis is likely to occur.

Who is eligible to receive

The list of persons entitled to benefits for medicines is established by Federal Law No. 178, as well as government decree No. 890.

This includes the following categories :

WWII veterans.
Veterans of local wars, if they have the appropriate status.
Residents of besieged Leningrad.
Heroes of the Russian Federation and labor.
Awarded the Order of Glory.
Chernobyl liquidators.
Prisoners of concentration camps.
Representatives of small northern peoples.
Young children under 3 years old.
Children under 6 years old, provided they live in large families.
Disabled people of groups I and II. Disabled people of the second group have the right to receive free medicines in the absence of official employment.

Persons suffering from serious illnesses also have the right to free medicines.

The list of pathologies established by government decree includes one and a half dozen items. Among them are HIV infection, tuberculosis, all types of malignant oncology, cerebral palsy, asthma, diabetes, and mental disorders.

Another category of citizens receives drugs included in the preferential list with a 50% discount . These include:

Home front workers.
Persons of retirement age whose income is below the minimum subsistence level established in the region.
Disabled people of group II, as well as group III, who are officially unemployed.
Rehabilitated victims of Stalin's repressions.

Elena Smirnova

Pension lawyer, ready to answer your questions.

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In addition to the above categories, which are provided with federal benefits, some social groups may be assigned similar preferences by decision of local authorities.

What memory medications are indicated for older people?

Nerve cells gradually die due to the aging process, and this leads to memory deterioration. As a rule, the problem occurs over the age of 50. It is difficult for older people to remember dates, perform actions on time, etc. In such a situation, doctors prescribe medications for older people to improve memory:

Nootropics

Memory medications for older people that increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain. Because of this, glucose is better absorbed, and it is a substance that significantly improves concentration, memory, and mental abilities.

Memory medications for older people, such as Nootropil, are prescribed if memory has deteriorated so much that the patient cannot say the names of his relatives, does not know how to get home, what his name is, where he lives. The medicine is taken up to 5 mg per day for a month, and then the dosage is reduced by half. As a rule, the condition improves within a week.

Read material on the topic: Senile dementia

Unfortunately, such memory medications for older people are addictive, which is why the dosage has to be constantly increased. Doctors recommend taking breaks in treatment or regularly replacing medications with similar ones.

Memory medications for older adults may be used in the following cases:

depressive states;
strict, long-term diet;
head/brain injuries.

Vitamins

Experts advise regularly taking not only medications for older people, but also vitamins containing ginseng, which, in fact, is a nootropic of plant origin. The most popular of the complexes is “Vision”. By the way, it can be taken not only by the elderly, but also by those who are constantly engaged in mental work, for example, students.

" Biotredin " allows you to enhance memory due to its effect on the nervous system. Such memory medications for the elderly are indicated for depression and stress.

" Vitrum Memory " is another effective medicine that can improve brain activity. As a rule, such drugs for older people are prescribed if a person has poor memory, hearing, or vision.

Medications

Glycine . Memory medications for the elderly “Glycine” and “Glycine-Forte” treat memory impairment, sclerosis, and amnesia. They allow you to improve metabolism, increase efficiency, relieve stress, and restore sleep. In addition, “Glycine” is prescribed to young people with head injuries, concussions, as well as those whose activities involve constant intense mental stress.

"Glycine" has almost no contraindications, however, individual intolerance to the components in its composition is possible (allergic reaction, tinnitus, drowsiness). Check out the list of contraindications if your elderly relative is taking these medications for the elderly.

Read material on the topic: Treatment of senile dementia

Intellan stimulates brain activity. It is prescribed for stress, depression, and attention problems. Memory medications for the elderly, such as Intellan, are prescribed to children with developmental delays. The medicine should not be taken by those who suffer from diabetes. If you take Intellan at night, you may experience insomnia.

Piracetam and phenotropil . If the grandmother or grandfather does not remember anything, then memory restoration in older people is required. The drugs "Piracetam" and "Phenotropil" can improve blood circulation and activate metabolic processes. Piracetam is prescribed along with other medications for diseases of the nervous system, atherosclerosis, and injuries. Such drugs for older people can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor and with great caution, since the occurrence of allergic reactions and exacerbation of heart disease is possible.

"Phenotropil" has a psychostimulating effect. It effectively improves memory and intellectual activity, and should be taken in the first half of the day. Like other drugs for older people, the medicine can cause side effects, for example, high blood pressure and insomnia.

Tanakan and phenibut are prescribed for encephalopathy and mental impairment.
"Phenibut" - for anxiety, irritability. These memory medications for the elderly may cause side effects such as dizziness, itching, and bowel dysfunction. They should not be taken for gastritis, ulcers, or poor circulation.

Basic information

Every 12 months, the Ministry of Health and Social Development makes amendments to a special document containing a list of preferential drugs. Some drugs are removed from this list every year, others are added. In the current year 2020, the list of preferential drugs includes the following drugs :

drugs against viruses and fungal diseases;
hormonal agents;
anticonvulsants, anxiolytics and antipsychotics;
non-narcotic, opioid analgesics;
antidepressant drugs;
antibiotics;
drugs that improve sleep quality;
drugs used to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory systems, and gastrointestinal tract;
antiallergenic drugs;
remedies for gout, parkinsonism.

You can get rid of the most common diseases using drugs that are included in the list of preferential drugs.

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Treatment of constipation in older people: when to buy drugs

If you have to deal with a problem such as treating constipation in older people, medications should be used only in a situation where other methods do not help. This is common practice all over the world, since any drug that affects the intestines can cause adverse reactions. People take laxatives for older people for constipation if the difficulty in bowel movements lasts for a long time.

It is advisable to use laxatives for older people in situations where it is not possible to get rid of the problem by other methods. They should be taken if you have tried other procedures and infusions, but they do not produce results.

Such drugs for older people are divided into 4 groups:

To soften stool (osmolytics). These medications for older people can increase the volume of stool and soften it. The action lasts for 6 hours;
Irritants of the intestinal wall activate the nerve receptors of the intestinal walls, increase peristalsis, which promotes emptying;
Fillers . These drugs for older people work like this: the volume of feces increases due to the fact that water is drawn from the intestinal lumen. As a rule, the result of treatment appears after four days;
Prebiotics - ensure normalization of the bacterial composition of the intestine and improvement of food digestion.

Laxatives for older people should be chosen carefully and be sure to consult a doctor on this issue.

Let's look at the main drugs for treating constipation:

" Guttalax " is an effective drug that has a mild effect. As a rule, the result of treatment appears within sixteen hours. You should take 10-15 drops of medicine per day. If you are treating constipation in older people, medications, including Guttalax, should be changed to other medications after some time, since most of them are addictive;
" Regulax " is an effective drug. The composition contains herbal ingredients, and therefore the medicine is not addictive. The action lasts about ten hours. By the way, the tablets have a pleasant taste.
“ Elimin ”, “ Evacuol ”, “ Dibrolax ” are medications that have an irritating effect on the intestinal walls. They allow you to perform a one-time bowel movement, as they activate the large intestine;
Forlax a laxative drug. It should not be taken by the elderly, because taking the medicine leads to the loss of potassium and calcium in the blood. In addition, it is not recommended to use it for a long time;
" Prelax " is recommended not only for elderly people, but also for newborn children. A daily dosage (50 ml) together with another laxative drug allows you to normalize digestive processes for a long time.

How does the payment work?

All documentation is collected in advance and must strictly comply with the form; this application is considered socially important, so special attention is paid to all papers. According to the law, pensioners are not compensated in full for drug costs. In each region, the annual amount of funds allocated per person is established; usually it is no more than 25 thousand rubles.

Moreover, a pensioner can receive compensation only in the amount of 13% of expenses. Today, the legislation stipulates the maximum deduction amount - 15,600, which is 13% of 120 thousand rubles. Typically, citizens spend much less, about 10 thousand rubles, and, therefore, have the right to count on compensation in the amount of 1,300 rubles. So, there is little support for medicine for old-age pensioners from the state; many refuse this social service in favor of paying monetary compensation.

List of free medications

The list of medications that can be received free of charge or at a discount in 2020 was approved by the Russian government by order No. 2738r dated December 10, 2018. It includes medications from the following groups:

painkillers;
antiepileptics;
medications against idiopathic parkinsonism syndrome;
psycholeptic drugs;
stimulants and sedatives;
anti-infective drugs of various release forms (tablets, capsules and solutions);
anti-cancer drugs and immunosuppressants;
preparations for strengthening bone tissue;
anticoagulants and drugs against cardiovascular pathologies;
hormonal medications;
drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in various forms;
diuretics and medications for genitourinary pathologies;
drugs for the treatment of respiratory organs and pathologies of the digestive system;
antihistamines;
medicine for eye diseases, including drops, vitamins and other forms of drug release.