Those at higher risk include people more than 75 years old, people taking oral steroids, and people taking a blood-thinning medication such as apixaban (Eliquis), aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dabigatran (Pradaxa), edoxaban (Savaysa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), or warfarin (Coumadin).

Which of the following medications inappropriate for the elderly?

Table. 2015 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults

• Brompheniramine.
• Carbinoxamine.
• Chlorpheniramine.
• Clemastine.
• Cyproheptadine.
• Dexbrompheniramine.
• Dexchlorpheniramine.
• Dimenhydrinate.

What is the most common medication problem in the elderly?

Warfarin is one of the most common causes of medication-related hospitalizations in older adults. To reduce the risk of serious problems, one may need to apply extra care in monitoring warfarin effect (via the prothrombin blood test) and extra care in checking for interactions when a new drug is prescribed.

Which of the following indicates medications that should be avoided or cautiously used in the elderly?

Talk with your healthcare provider if a medication you are taking is in the AGS Beers Criteria^®. Ask if there might be a safer or more effective alternative. Keep in mind that if a medication you take is on the AGS Beers Criteria^®, it still may be a reasonable choice for you.

Which drug is more likely to be potentially inappropriate for older adults?

In one study, 19 percent of 2508 community-dwelling older adults were using one or more medications inappropriately; NSAIDs and benzodiazepines were the drug classes with the most potential problems [43].

Which of the following types of drugs should be avoided in older adults with dementia?

Anticholinergic drugs should be avoided in patients with dementia, cognitive impairment, or delirium. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine noted that higher cumulative anticholinergic medication use was associated with an increased risk for dementia.

Which classification of drugs are inappropriate for use in the geriatric population?

Some drug categories (eg, analgesics, anticoagulants, antihypertensives, antiparkinsonian drugs, diuretics, hypoglycemic drugs, psychoactive drugs) pose special risks for older adults. Some drugs, although reasonable for use in younger adults, are so risky they should be considered inappropriate for older adults.

How can medication errors be prevented in older adults?

Other strategies may be used to prevent medication errors in older adults during various points in the medication use system, including:

1. Patient demographic and clinical information.
2. Prescribing.
3. Order communication and transcribing.
4. Dispensing.
5. Administering.
6. Patient education.
7. Monitoring.

Why do elderly stop taking medication?

Memory: Senior simply forget to take their medications. Need: 40% of elderly patients do not know the purpose of their medication. Some do not take them because they don’t feel good, others stop taking because they feel good. Volume: too many medications.

How medications affect the elderly?

Common side effects of medicines in older adults can be dizziness and falls, weight loss or weight gain, and changes in memory or our ability to think and process information. These, in turn, can cause older adults to get hurt and may ultimately lessen their ability to function in day-to-day life.

What to do if elderly keeps falling?

What to Do if an Elderly Person Falls Down

1. Stay calm and help your loved one to remain calm by encouraging them to take slow, deep breaths.
2. Examine them for injuries like bruises, bleeding, possible sprains and broken bones.
3. Ask them if they are experiencing any pain, where it is located and how severe it is.

What medications would most likely increase the risk for fall?

Medications That Can Cause Falls

• Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements.
• Constipation drugs.
• Calcium supplements.
• Hypnotics and sedatives.
• Analgesics and antipyretics.
• Opioids.
• Antidepressants.
• Thyroid hormones.

Why amlodipine must be administered with caution in the elderly?

However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving this medicine.

What percent of the elderly are on medication?

Nearly nine in ten (89%) adults 65 and older report they are currently taking any prescription medicine. This compares to three-fourths of 50-64 year olds who report taking prescription drugs, half (51%) of 30-49 year olds, and four in ten (38%) 18-29 year olds.

Why are elderly more sensitive to drugs?

Increased Sensitivity to Many Drugs: The problems of decreased body size, altered body composition (more fat, less water), and decreased liver and kidney function cause many drugs to accumulate in older people’s bodies at dangerously higher levels and for longer times than in younger people.

What is the average number of medications taken by elderly?

The statistics on medication usage among elderly patients in the US are eye-opening: more than one-third of prescriptions drugs used in the US are taken by elderly patients; the ambulatory elderly fill between 9-13 prescriptions a year (including new prescriptions and refills); the average elderly patient is taking