title: Medications and nutrition in the elderly.
abstract: Single drug and drug combinations taken by elderly individuals may impose nutritional risk. Nutritional risk induced by drug intake include anorexia, excessive increase in appetite, drug-induced nutritional deficiencies, and toxic reactions. Drug side effects, such as postural hypotension, may interfere with food shopping or cooking ability. Prescribed diets may also impose a risk of drug-induced side effects or diminished drug efficacy. Unwanted outcomes of drug-food and drug-nutrient interactions can be minimized by instructing elderly men and women and their caregivers to avoid timing errors in drug-taking behavior and toxic reactions due to food incompatibility. In addition, drug-induced nutritional deficiencies can be avoided by advising drug-taking elderly on the appropriate levels of nutrient intake.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Roe
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D000368:Aged; D004347:Drug Interactions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005502:Food; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations