Polypharmacy in the Older Adult: Too Much of a Good Thing

Multiple drugs for elderly people: too many good things Elderly patients taking some drugs may increase the risk of harmful drug reactions. The aging process not only affects how elderly people deal with drugs, but elderly people take more medication than young people. According to a study by Conry (2005), elderly patients need to take on average 5 prescription drugs and 2 marketing drugs (Conry, 2005). Drugs are often required to improve the quality of life for the elderly, but should use non-pharmacological methods wherever possible.

Pharmacopoeia is an obvious risk factor for the fall of the elderly. In 1994 pioneering work on risk factors related to the fall of the elderly, Mary Tinetti looked at the possible risk factors and the effect of intervention on the risk of falls in the elderly community. Doctors, nurses and physical therapists examined these risk factors in the control and intervention group: serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, antibiotic convulsants and antibiotics Antiarrhythmic drugs have been shown to be most closely related to increased risk of falls. Others noted that the increased risk of falls is particularly related to the following categories of medications:

Due to a series of reversible medical conditions and drug factors. Several common causes are drug related: harmful drug reactions, interactions (too many drugs) among too many drugs, and medication is inaccurate. In addition, the elderly are very sensitive to educational deficiencies - certain nutritional deficiencies, hydration and certain vitamin deficiencies during a meal may cause temporary cognitive changes. In addition, persistent pain affects cognition. Before taking further action, we recommend that you introduce it to a doctor or senior citizen (doctor specializing in the elderly).

"Medical" refers to the simultaneous prescription of multiple drugs, the use of drugs known to cause adverse events in the elderly, and / or the use of drugs to treat adverse effects of other drugs . More common drug side effects due to age-related changes in drug metabolism affect delivery and removal of internal drugs 63 drugs are also associated with side effects of other senile syndrome (falls, incontinence or cognition Disorder, etc.) are exacerbated. Factors that are often ignored in physical discontent of elderly people 64