Drug Interactions: Part 2 Flashcards
__% of all illnesses are initially treated with OTC drugs
90
Aspirin has been known to cause what?
Many deaths in the US because of bleeding
________ ______ are a major cause of morbidity and mortality
Medication errors
Definition of medication error
Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm, while the medication is in the control of the healthcare professional, patient or consumer
Who makes medication errors?
Doctors, nurses, patients, consumers
Types of medication errors
Wrong patient Wrong dose Wrong drug Wrong time Wrong route
Causes of med errors
Human error Communication Name confusion Packaging issues Medication labels
How can you reduce med errors?
Eliminate dangerous abbreviations
Develop limitations regarding verbal orders
Triple check on medication administration
Computer order sheets
At birth, babies’ stomachs are very…
Alkaline (slower absorption)
Breast fed babies have a much _______ GI transit time
Faster
Infant body = __% water
70
If you have a water soluble drug, babies need…
More because they have more water to dissolve it in
Pediatric metabolism
P450 enzymes reach adult levels at 2 years of age
Pediatric excretion
Do not have full renal function until 9 months
Atraumatic care
Will do anything we can to get babies to take drugs without traumatizing them
Geriatric absorption
Decreased blood flow and GI motility
Geriatric pharmacology
Decreased total body water and loss of protein-binding sites
Geriatric metabolism
Hepatic blood flow decreased by 40-45%
Geriatric excretion
Decreased CO and declining kidney function
Geriatric water soluble drugs
Be careful because elderly people do not have as much body water to diffuse it
Hypnotics
Any drugs of sleep or anxiety
Antidepressants are often contingent on…
Total body water
Diuretics and anti-hypertensives can cause..
Falls because of lowering BP
Anti-cholinergic
Blocks parasympathetic nervous system
