Medication and the Elderly

Question 1

What are the most common drug classes that are prescribed to adults?

Answer 1

Psychotropic and Anti-inflammatory

Question 2

Reasons for medication complications in the elderly

Answer 2

Physiological changes
		Medication interactions
		Polypharmacy
		Multiple medication effect
		Non-compliance

Question 3

Absorption

Answer 3

The process by which a drug is transferred from its site of entry into the body to the bloodstream.

Question 4

Normal gastric pH

Answer 4

1-4

Question 5

How does CHF effect medications?

Answer 5

Absorption rate is slower due to decreased blood flow.

Question 6

Common things that affect distribution of a drug are

Answer 6

Body composition changes
		Decreased total body water
		Increased body fat
		Decreased lean body mass
		Decreased albumin sites
		Increased body fat
		Decreased cardiac output
		Impaired peripheral blood flow
		Cardiac and Renal function

Question 7

What is the main thing to consider when administering medications to pediatrics?

Answer 7

Must have an acurate body weight.

Question 8

Primary site for drug metabolism

Answer 8

Liver

Question 9

The process of removing a drug or its metabolites from the body

Answer 9

Excretion

Question 10

GI blood flow _______ in the elderly.

Answer 10

Decreases

Question 11

There are _____ protien binding sites in the elderly which causes ______ free drug.

Answer 11

Fewer; excess

Question 12

______ cardiac output (CHF), _____ perfusion of the drug to the organs.

Answer 12

Decreased, slows

Question 13

Impaired peripheral blood flow

Answer 13

causes slow healing because it takes longer for the drug to reach the site of infection.

Question 14

Polypharmacy

Answer 14

using many meds whether they are prescribed or not.

Question 15

Noncompliance

Answer 15

Deliberate misuse of medications