Geriatric Pharmacology Flashcards
What can be defined as the management of a drug by the body?
Pharmacokinetics
What are the 4 processes of pharmacokinetics?
- absorption
- distribution
- metabolism
- excretion
What age related changes affect absorption?
- Decreased surface area and blood flow to GI
- Decreased GI motility
- Increased pH
What age related changes affect distribution?
- decreased albumin
- increased α1 -acid glycoprotein and lipoproteins
- less total body water
- higher fat content
- decreased muscle mass
What age related changes affect metabolism?
- reduced hepatic blood flow
- reduced hepatic mass
- reduced number of functioning hepatocytes
What age related change affects excretion?
- decreased renal function
What should be used to assess renal function in the elderly?
creatinine clearance, rather than serum creatinine
Do drugs remain in an elderly patient’s system longer or shorter in comparison to their younger counterparts? What is the risk?
longer, which increases the risk for toxic side effects
Polypharmacy is defined as the use of _ or more medications by a patient
4
Polypharmacy affects about __% of older adults living in their own homes
40
What are the 4 concerns associated with polypharmacy?
- Increased adverse drug reactions
- Drug interactions
- Prescribing cascade
- Higher costs
What can be defined as any unwanted and potentially harmful effect caused by a drug when the drug is given at the recommended dosage?
Adverse Drug Reaction
What can be defined as an?y injury occurring at the time a drug is used, whether or not is identified as a cause of the injury?
Adverse Drug Event
An adverse drug _____ is a special type of adverse drug ____ in which a causative relationship can be shown
reaction
event
Are men or women more prone to ADRs?
women
