Shared Flashcard Set

Details

CLPH 469 General Geriatrics
general geriatrics
23
Pharmacology
Professional
12/09/2011

Additional Pharmacology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
age over which is generally considered elderly (AARP)
Definition
65 years old
Term

percentage of seniors taking 3 or more medications

...8 or more medications

Definition

3 or more = 76%

8 or more = 34%

Term
Which elderly people should pharmacists focus on?
Definition
The 40% of them who do not understand their medications well
Term
common problems experienced by the elderly
Definition
  • impaired vision/hearing
  • incontinence
  • constipation
  • poor nutrition
  • falls - impacts independence
  • insomnia
  • weakness/fatigue
  • iatrogenesis (drug/tx related disease normally due to poly-pharmacy)
  • poverty
Term
medications associated with increased risk of falls
Definition
  • BENZODIAZEPINES
  • sedatives/hypnotics
  • neuroleptics/antipsychotics
  • antidepressants
  • opiods
  • loop diuretics (orthostatic hypertension)
  • alpha-blockers
Term
What are some changes in pharmacokinetics as one ages?
Definition
  • decreased renal function
  • decreased hepatic function
  • increased ratio of body fat/muscle causing decreased clearing of lipophilic drugs
  • decreased metabolism
Term
What is the Beers Criteria for?
Definition
potentially inappropriate medications in older adults
Term
What does the Beers Criteria do?
Definition
examines use of individual agents and their risk for adverse effects in the elderly
Term
What are the three classes of drugs that the Beers Criteria focuses on?
Definition
  1. anti-cholinergics
  2. sedatives/drugs with CNS effects
  3. GI toxic drugs
Term
Why should anti-cholinergics be avoided in the elderly?
Definition

affect balance which could lead to falls

& have a negative effect on cognitive function

Term
Why should GI toxic drugs be avoided in the elderly?
Definition
much more prone to GI ulcers and bleeding
Term
The key to aging...
Definition
aging well
Term
What are some of the attributes associated with successful aging?
Definition
  • positive spirituality, absence of depression and cognitive impairment
  • absence of nutritional deficits, diabetes, arthritis, and functional disability
  • higher education which is associated with a higher level of functioning
  • stable housing, physical activity, preventative health measures
Term
#1 risk factor for drug-related problems in the elderly
Definition
# of medications
Term
in effective geriatric pharmacotherapy we want to...
Definition

effectively treat both acute and chronic conditions without causing HARM

and promote conservative prescribing

Term
in order to promote conservative prescribing we want to minimize what?
Definition
  • total number and nonessential meds
  • use of drugs with high potential for adverse outcomes
  • use of drugs with negative impact on cognitive and/or functional status
Term
In order to minimize negative impact on cognitive and/or functional status we want to focus on what?
Definition
  • functional state instead of evidence-based medicine
  • the benefit of individual medication against primary body functions

test used to test - timed get up and go test

 

Term
Gradual dosage reductions for CNS medications should be done after the patient has been stable for how long? in order to reduce what?
Definition
decrease dose after 3-6 months to reduce adverse effects
Term
when adding/removing medications from treatment for an elderly patient what should be done after ONE week and as needed?
Definition
reassement of clinical, functional, and cognitive status
Term

Advanced Care Directive

(Patient Self-Determination Act)

Definition
  • educate public about end of life (EOL) care refusal, etc.
  • encourage use of ACDs to prevent uncertainty for care at EOL
  • reduce cost of EOL tx
  • includes: life-sustaining tx, do not resuscitate orders, withholding/withdrawing tx
Term
What is palliative care?
Definition

total care of terminally-ill patient with disease that is not responsive to curative tx

 

is focused on controlling symptoms to maintain QOL rather than disease management

 

includes hospice care (which is interdisciplinary palliative care)

Term

How to communicate with the elderly

 

Definition
  • avoid stereotyping
  • engage the patient in decision making
  • speak to patient (NOT the caregiver) when possible
  • accomodate for physical barriers such as vision, hearing, and cognition
Term
strategies for communicating with elderly patients
Definition
  • use simple, direct wording
  • use slower pace
  • repeat instructions
  • allow ample time to respond
  • give reasons for advice
  • use visual aids when possible
  • follow-up
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