Ageing Flashcards
which class of drug is associated with a significant increase in mortality in dementia?
antipsychotics
what scan must be done in dementia patients before they are started on cholinesterase inhibitors? why?
they must have a baseline ECG - cholinesterase inhibitors are contraindicated in patients with arrhythmias
What drug can be given to dementia patients when acetylcholine esterase inhibitors are contraindicated?
memantine
which class of drug is contraindicated in patients with Parkinson’s disease? why?
antipsychotics
they are dopamine antagonists- patients with Parkinson’s already have a depletion of dopamine, so anti-psychotics will make their Parkinson’s worse
describe cognition in lewy body dementia in comparison to the other dementias
unlike the other dementias, Lewy body dementia typically presents with fluctuating cognition
name 3 symtoms consistent with Lewy body dementia
fluctuating, progressively worse cognition
visual hallucinations
REM sleep disorder
what class of drug is memantine?
NMDA receptor antagonist
generally, how is cognition affected in fronto-temporal dementia?
Its not really that affected- memory and visuospatial skills remain intact
it is more likely to present with personality change and social conduct problems at a young age
describe the 1st line tx for delirium?
how does this differ for patients with Parkinson’s?
1st line: haloperidol or olanzipine
in patients with Parkinson’s, typical antipsychotics are contraindicated: give them lorazepam
name 3 acetylcholine esterase inhibitors?
donepezil
rivastigmine
galantamine
name 5 symptoms of digoxin toxicity ?
- GI upset (N&V, ab pain)
- dizziness
- confusion
- blurry or yellow vision
- arrhythmias
digoxin toxicity can be potentiated by renal failure and hypokalaemia
which class of drug can precipitate gout?
thiazide diuretics (indapamide)
how does 1st line treatment of acute confusional state differ from 1st line delirium tx?
acute confusional state: oral haloperidol
delirium: lorazepam (unless they have Parkinson’s)
