Is it that unusual to be in your 60s and not on medication?

[Mumblechum0]

This is just something that made me think this week; 3 separate groups of friends and family, all late 50s or early 60s.

im finding increasingly that a lot of conversations turn to various ailments etc. I find these very dull.

amyway, in all 3 groups (I know how bizarre this sounds), they talked about what medications they’re on, and were surprised that I don’t take anything, not even vitamins, hrt etc.

i had cancer over 20 yrs ago but have been to the GP twice in 10 years. If I get ill, I tend to just wait for it to pass.

anyway, I wondered idly whether I just hang out with a lot of very unlucky people in terms of health, or is it usual to be on 3 or 4 meds?

(one friend had an alarm going off on her phone all day to remind her to take her tablets which led to today’s conversation)

My dad is early 70s and on loads. He is of the type to throw meds at things and not address the underlying problem though.
My mum is on no meds at all.

Dunno - it's not unusual to be taking something, but I wouldn't think it's unusual not to be either.

Though were all supposed to take Vit D in winter, I believe

We're all

I'm 65 and not on any meds if that helps - along with most of my friends - guess we are lucky

My husband is mid 60s and on no prescribed medication although he does take a few supplements ( vit D etc ) . I’m late 50s and could easily rattle with the amount of prescribed meds that I take , and have done for a number of years .

@redwinecheeseandothersnacks yes I think maybe it is just luck 😊

My mum is nearly 80 and apart from vitamin D in winter has never taken a thing. My dad meanwhile rattles like a pillbox! I take a range of vitamins and supplements and HRT but nothing for any medical conditions apart from asthma inhalers that I’ve had since childhood.

You are very lucky, but maybe just maybe you might need SOME meds aswell, if you haven't been for checks regularly. You might feel ok, but that's not necessarily what's going on inside! Happy for you though that you survived the cancer and seem to be doing great. Tell us your secret!

My circle is the same, everyone on multiple meds for this and that. We are all in our late 60s and everyone seems to be on either statins, blood pressure meds, metformin, blood thinners, bisphosphonates for osteoporosis, anti inflammatories for arthritis, Vitamin D, Thyroid meds and so on. They're all doing well.

I am prescribed a beta blocker for Afib (I don't need blood thinner), and PPI for gastritis - the result of successfully treated H Pylori. That's it. Not too bad I reckon as things go.

I'm 67 and not on any.

I think it is. My DMIL was in hospital for a suspected heart attack a couple of years ago and the pharmacist almost didn't believe her that at 68 the only thing she took was statins!

63 and no meds but yes do take Vit D and at the moment Echinacea, Vit C and Zinc as trying to avoid catching the flu for Christmas. Had flu jab too.

My parents weren't. My PILs weren't at that age and my MIL still isn't at nearly 80.

Out of interest, why aren’t you on HRT if it protects you in the future?

Im on quite a lot of things for conditions I have, in my 50s

OH has been on lots of meds for years with type 2 diabetes

My parents are in their 80s and my mum has only really been on meds for the past 5 years or so for MH issues, nothing physical although all her life she has been very keen on various supplements if that counts. My dad has a number of issues he takes meds for, mainly statins and PPIs as preventatives for conditions he has

I think its totally normal for people to be on meds even younger. OH has also been on asthma medication since his 20s.

I'm 36 and on 4 medications, at least 3 of which will probably be for life. I guess I'm just unlucky 🤷

My mum is 74 and not on any meds.

I knew a 99yr old that just took a daily junior aspirin just for the sake of it. It happens. Cheers to your ongoing good health

The only medication I have had recently is Efudex cream for a basal cell carcinoma

Hmm, I’m conscious that all drugs have side effects, so as long as I’m fit and healthy (don’t even get colds when DH has them), I’d rather toddle on as I am 😊

And I'll be going on HRT as soon as I can work out what I need. I want the protective elements of it.

Lucky you to find it ‘dull’.

I sailed through menopause with no issues at all. My mates were all on HRT and about 10 years ago they persuaded me to go to a private GP for a tailor made cream which I did use for a year or two at great expense but I didn’t notice any advantage compared to how I was off it, so I stopped using it.

I was in one of those conversations recently, which blood pressure meds and various other meds everyone was on, I felt a bit left out on none.

I dont think people like us are unlucky, we're lucky we live in an age and a country where ailments can be treated and supported and symptoms removed or managed by medication

200 years ago I would have been in a right state and/or dead, unable to function

Im never quite sure I understand posts and threads like OPs, its the luck of the draw whether someone has conditions they need treatment for, age isnt really the issue, its what you have wrong with you that dictates medication need.

Vitamin D etc is not really what I would count as 'medicine' either.

My mum is 68 and dad 70, neither take any kind of medication.