Chapter 5 - Pharmacology and the Care of Adults and Geriatric Patients

birth

aging begins at _____

19-64

age related changes start at ___-___

geriatrics

older adults 64 years or older

they might get less effects from the med

older patients have a reduced number of receptor sites which means…

they are worn out and don’t get as excited

older adults have changes in affinity to receptors meaning…

Beers Criteria

list of potentially inappropriate drugs used by older adults; makes sure that the meds we are giving aren’t doing more harm than good

assess history, asses renal and liver function, assess drug levels

how do we prevent adverse effects for older adults?

pill box,, reminder on phone

list 2 examples of medication administration aids

decreased; more

physiologic changes that affect pharmacokinetics includes ___ function of vital organs and frail elderly experience ____ altered drug response

lower gastric acid and delayed absorption

how is absorption altered in older adults?

poor heart function, increased body fat, lower albumin

how is distribution altered in older adults?

liver slows so meds stay in body longer than they should

how is metabolism altered in older adults?

kidneys slow down which increases the risk of toxicity and adverse effects

how is excretion altered in older adults?

polypharmacy

taking multiple medications that can interact at the same time; can be hard to manage

True

True or False: when starting a medication as an older adult, you should start low and slow, meaning you take the lowest dose for a while to see how you react

decreased function of vital organs

the most relevant physiologic change is the _____ _____ __ _____ ______ needed for pharmacokinetic processes

gastric pH

the GI tract changes affecting drug absorption include an increase in the _____ ___

decrease in blood flow to the GI tract, decreased surface area for absorption, and diminished gastric emptying

these 3 things contribute to the limited absorption in older adults

diminished cardiac output, increased body fat, decreased body mass, body fluid, serum albumin

these things affect how medications are distributed throughout the body in older adults (5)