University of Miami division of clinical pharmacology therapeutic rounds: issues in prescribing for geriatric patients and emerging practice guidelines.
The geriatric population accounts for over 12% of the United States population and consumes over 25% of all prescription medications. Polypharmacy and patient noncompliance are often encountered in caring for these patients. These issues along with a variety of age-related physiologic changes and the presence of multiple medical illnesses place the elderly at an increased risk for adverse drug reactions. Especially worrisome is the use of long-acting benzodiazepines and anticholinergic medications in this population. The problem of adverse drug reactions is a common clinical problem that is of great public concern as the number of older persons in the United States continues to grow. In response, a variety of proactive measures have been developed. These measures include the development of consensus criteria for inappropriate medications, federal government regulation, expansion of the role of clinical pharmacists, and computer-assisted prescribing protocols.
Golden
A G
AG
Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Silverman
M A
MA
Preston
R A
RA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019338:Polypharmacy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016312:Treatment Refusal