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Chapter 5 - Appropriate use of medications in the elderly

from Section I - General approach to the care of the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2016

By
Emily R. Hajjar ,
Amber E. King  and
Lauren R. Hersh
Edited by
Jan Busby-Whitehead ,
Christine Arenson ,
Samuel C. Durso ,
Daniel Swagerty ,
Laura Mosqueda ,
Maria Fiatarone Singh  and
William Reichel
Jan Busby-Whitehead
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina
Christine Arenson
Affiliation:
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Samuel C. Durso
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Daniel Swagerty
Affiliation:
University of Kansas
Laura Mosqueda
Affiliation:
University of Southern California
Maria Fiatarone Singh
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
William Reichel
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
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Summary

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic changes occur with aging that affect drug therapy in the older adult population. Tools for assessing appropriateness, such as the Beer’s criteria and the STOPP/START criteria, have demonstrated their effectiveness and potential place in guiding prescribers. The consequences of inappropriate prescribing for older adults include falls and cognitive impairment. Medication adherence techniques and strategies can improve appropriate prescribing in older adults.  
Type
Chapter
Information
Reichel's Care of the Elderly
Clinical Aspects of Aging
 , pp. 58 - 68
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

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