title: Recent Literature Update on Medication Risk in Older Adults, 2015-2016.
abstract: Medications can pose considerable risk in older adults. This article annotates four articles addressing this concern from 2016. The first provides national data on the use of specific prescription, over-the-counter and dietary supplements in older adults and their change over time. The second discusses the opportunity of deprescribing ineffective/unnecessary stool softeners (i.e., docusate) routinely given to older hospital patients. The third national study examines common adverse drug events in older emergency room patients. Finally, a study published demonstrating a potential association between melatonin and fractures is discussed. This manuscript is intended to provide a narrative review of key publications in medication safety for clinicians and researchers committed to improving medication safety in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Koronkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Pharmacy Benefits Management Services, Hines, Illinois.|Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Todd P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Semla
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.|Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Kenneth E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Schmader
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Geriatrics), School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hanlon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059065:Medication Reconciliation; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019338:Polypharmacy; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs
keywords: adverse drugs events; drug-related problems; inappropriate prescribing; polypharmacy