Medication use and prescribing considerations for elderly patients.
Older adults consume more medications than any other segment of the population. Increasing lifespan means that more people will live into old age, frequently with disabilities and conditions man-aged by medications. Age-associated physiologic changes, medication use patterns, and adverse drug effects and interactions place the older adult at high risk for medication-related problems. Older adults living in institutions, those with complex medical problems,and those who do not adhere to medication regimens are at highest risk for negative health outcomes from medication mishaps. Dentists must be able to identify older adults who are susceptible to adverse drug events and to recognize which medications are most likely to precipitate problems.
Williams
Bradley R
BR
University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA. bradwill@hsc.usc.edu
Kim
Jiwon
J
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs