Medicines can help our health, but they can cause problems too.

As you get older, your body can become more sensitive to medicine, and that can cause side effects-like feeling dizzy or drowsy-that can make you fall.

Medicines can also work together in unexpected ways and cause side effects.

Let me show you what I mean ...

Last winter, Max's doctor became concerned about Max's blood pressure.

So he prescribed medicine to lower it.

When spring came, Max bought his usual over-the-counter allergy medicine.

He didn't know his allergy pills lowered his blood pressure too.

When he took both pills, his blood pressure got so low that when he tried to stand up, he got dizzy and fell over.

He talked about this with his doctor, who recommended a different kind of allergy medicine.

Do you ever feel dizzy or drowsy after you take your medicine? Well ...

Sleeping pills, allergy medicine, antidepressants, and pain medicine can make you feel this way.

So can drinking alcohol, especially when you're taking medicine.

Be sure your doctor knows about all the medicines you take.

I'd suggest you make a list of all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and herbal remedies you take.

Include how much of each you take and when you take it.

Give this list to your doctor.

Also give the list to your pharmacist, who can help watch for medicines that might not work well together.