title: Medication management.
abstract: The elderly receive more drugs than any other patient group, and those in nursing homes receive the most. However, little is known about drug action, particularly in the very old. A host of factors can alter drug action. Particular attention needs to be paid to the influence of intercurrent disease, other drugs in a particular regimen, the patient's weight and nutritional status, as well as altered pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of any drug. Liver and kidney status, and changes therein, are most important.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008509:Medication Systems; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012307:Risk Factors