Witches and Wizards: Safe Med Use Flashcards
geriatric syndromes (example)
- dementia, delirium
- urinary incontence
- falls
- dizziness
- syncope
- malnutrition
- pressure ulcers
- sleep problems
- polypharmacy
- iatrogenesis
- frailty
bolded syndromes are the classic geriatric syndromes
geriatric syndrome definition
multiple factors, organs, systems going wrong -> hard to get an exact dx -> treat te s/sx
delirium vs dementia onset
- delirium: sudden, definite beginning point
- dementia: slow, gradual, uncertain begining point
delirium vs dementia duration
- delirium: days to weeks
- dementia: permanent
delirium vs dementia cause
- delirium: almost always another condition (infection, dehydration, withdrawal)
- dementia: chronic brain disorder (AD)
delirium vs dementia course
- delirium: usually reversible
- dmeneita: permament
delirium vs dementiav effect at night
- delirium: almost alwas worse at night
- dementia: usually worse
delirium vs dementia attention
- delirium: greatly ipaire
- dementia: unimpaired until severe disease
delirium vs dementia level of consiousness
- delirum: variably ipaired
- dmenttia: unimpaired until severe disese
delirium vs dementia orientaiton to time and place
- delirium: varies
- dementia: impaired
delirium vs dementia use of language
- delirium: slow, often incoherent and inapprorpatie
- dementia: difficulty finding right word
delirium vs dementia memory
- delirium: vaires
- dementia: lost, esp for recent events
delirium vs dementia need for medical attnetion
- delirium: immediate
- dementia: required, but less urgently
frailty
- wt loss > 4.5 kg or 5% of wt per year
- self-reported exhaustion
- low energy expenditure
- slow gait
- weak grip strength
5 Ms of geriatrisc
- mentation/mind
- mobility
- meds
- multicoplexity
- matters most
Table 2 drugs: first-gen antihistamines - why bad
- highly anticholinergic -> falls, delirium, dementia, dry mouth,, consitpation
- diphenhydramine acceptable for acute treamtent of severe allergic reaction
Table 2 drugs: nitrofurantoin - why bad
- avoid specifically in CrCl <30 or for long term suppression
- potential for pulm tox, hepatotox, peripheral neuropathy
- safer options available
Table 2 drugs: asa for primary prevention - why bad
- bleed risk and not a ton of evidence for benefit
Table 2 drugs: warfarin - why bad
- bleed risk > > DOACs
- acceptable in: pts with CI or substantial barriers to DOACs AND pts who have been on warfarin long term
Table 2 drugs: xarelto - why bad
- bleed > > > other DOACs, esp eliquis (still better than warfarin tho)
- reasonable if: reasonable if QD dosing necessary for adherence
Table 2 drugs: dipyridamole - why bad
- ADR oorthostatic hypotension
- more effective altneratives available
- acceptable in IV form acceptable for sue in stress testing AND PO combo version with asa for secondary prevention
Table 2 drugs: non-selective peripheral alpha blockers - why bad
-azosin
- big no no for treatment of hypertension
- ADR orhtostatic hypotension
- alt agents aviailable with better risk/benefit profile
Table 2 drugs: central alpha agonst - why bad
clonidine, guanfacine
- big no no for treatment of hypertension (clonidine acceptable but not as firsft line)
- ADR CNS effects
- may worsen brady cardia and orthostatic hypotension
Table 2 drugs: nifedipine IR - why bad
- hypotension
- risk of precipitating MI
Table 2 drugs: amiodarone - why bad
- greatter tox than other agents (do NOT use as first line)
- acceptable in pts with HF or substantial left ventricualr hypertrophy
Table 2 drugs: dronederone - why bad
- worse outcomes in pts with afib or severe HF
- acceptable but cautioned use in pts with HfrEF