30. Special Populations

Question 1

List 6 special populations?

Answer 1

Children
Women
Pregnant women
Elderly
Ethnic groups
Patients with other diseases or on other meds

Question 2

What are the effects of old age on the body?

Answer 2

Decreased renal function
Decreased liver mass
Decreased hepatic blood flow
Decreased albumin and water content
Higher fat

Question 3

What effects does old age have on drug action?

Answer 3

Increased sensitivity of CNS depressants
Increased adverse effects
Increased distribution of lipid soluble drugs

Question 4

What effects does gender have on drug action?

Answer 4

Hormones can change drug action

Increased body fat

Question 5

What effects does ethnicity have on drug action?

Answer 5

Genetic variability is often ethnic-based

Question 6

What effects does liver disease have on drug action?

Answer 6

Decreased blood flow= increased bioavailability
Hypoalbuminaemia= Increased serum conc
Ascites/oedema= increase vol distribution for hydrophilic drugs

Question 7

What effect does kidney disease have on drug action?

Answer 7

Decreased drug elimination

Toxicity

Question 8

What 3 ways can drugs interact?

Answer 8

Substrates
Inhibitors
Inducers

Question 9

What is personalised medicine?

Answer 9

Use of medicine and dosage that is tailored for the patient rather than the population as a whole