title: Inappropriate prescribing in geriatric patients.
abstract: Inappropriate prescribing in older people is a common condition associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and financial costs. Medication use increases with age, and this, in conjunction with an increasing disease burden, is associated with adverse drug reactions. This review outlines why older people are more likely to develop adverse drug reactions and how common the problem is. The use of different tools to identify and measure the problem is reviewed. Common syndromes seen in older adults (eg, falling, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance) are considered, and recent evidence in relation to medication use for these conditions is reviewed. Finally, we present a brief summary of significant developments in the recent literature for those caring for older people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland. pat_barry@eircom.net
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Cristin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D001711:Biotransformation / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077154:Rosiglitazone