Medications & Pharmacology
Geriatric pharmacology refers to the area of study dealing with the use of medications in older people. The aging population is peculiarly susceptible to drug-related adverse effects. Moreover, rising medication costs may prompt low adherence and nutritional deficits.
Pharma Databases
- Lexidrug (formerly Lexicomp) This link opens in a new window
Risk Factors - Adverse Events
- 6+ concurrent chronic medical conditions
- 12+ medication doses per day
- 9+ meds
- history of prior drug reactions
- low body weight or BMI
- age > 85
Prescribing Cascades
A prescribing cascade refers to the sequence of events in which an adverse drug event is misinterpreted as a new medical condition, leading to the addition of another, potentially avoidable, medication.
Drug Interactions
Older adults are particularly vulnerable to drug interactions due to physiological changes with age, polypharmacy (taking multiple medications), and other factors, potentially leading to adverse drug reactions and health complications
Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults
Deprescribing
Deprescribing - a process of medication withdrawal supervised by health professional with the goal of managing polypharmacy and improving outcomes
