Exam 6 - Meds and the Elderly Flashcards
Lasix, NSAIDs, Dilantin…
Highly protein-bound drugs
Why are oral meds the slowest to be absorbed?
Because of the first pass effect
Morphine, promethazine, Valium, Fenergan
Fat-soluble drugs
More drug in the blood than going where intended
Free drug result
Process by which a drug is transferred from that site of entry into the body to the bloodstream
Absorption
Normal gastric pH
1.4
How many percent of the population do elders make up?
13%
When asking the patient about meds what all do you ask about?
Always ask about prescriptions, OTC, vitamins minerals and herbs
What are the most common drugs prescribed elders?
Psychotropics and anti-inflammatory agents
What affects how the body uses meds, how much blood carrying meds gets to spot to work
Reduced amount of G.I. bloodflow
What contributes to taking a while for med to move from stomach to bloodstream
Slowed G.I. motility
What takes place after drug has been absorbed into bloodstream?
Distribution
What does increase body fat in elderly pose problem for?
Increased body fat increases the ability to store fat soluble drugs can lead to drug toxicity, decreases the drugs elimination from body. Allowing the drug to stay in the body longer.
What affects how drug attaches to protein, increases level of free drug through bloodstream
Decreased serum albumin
What is the change of a drug from its original form to a new form?
Biotransformation
Reduced cardiac output leads to
Decreased perfusion to the liver
What in the elderly can lead to thiamine deficiency?
Antacids
What reduces folic acid and thiamin in an elderly?
Antibiotics and Dilantin
What are most drug doses based on
A 70 kg adult, about 150 pounds
The process of removing a drug or it’s metabolites from the body
Excretion
The product of drug metabolism
Metabolites
What does reduced renal bloodflow caused?
Loss of nephrons
What’s the main source of drug excretion?
The kidneys
What is the most used OTC med in the elderly?
Laxatives
Decreased lean muscle mass in the elderly leads to what?
The ability to eliminate water soluble drugs from the body. Allowing drugs to stay longer and increase risk for drug toxicity
