Which Of The Following Is A Problem When Psychotropic Drugs Are Used In The Elderly?

Anxiety and insomnia are common problems in the institutionalized elderly. If behavioral measures are not successful, antidepressant medications with shorter half-lives may avoid drug accumulation, which can lead to excessive sedation, cognitive impairment and an increased risk for falls.

What are the risks of psychotropic drugs?

Side effects

  • blurred vision.
  • nausea.
  • vomiting.
  • trouble sleeping.
  • anxiety.
  • drowsiness.
  • weight gain.
  • sexual problems.

What is a serious side effect of older antipsychotics?

Side effects of particular concern in the elderly include anticholinergic reactions, parkinsonian events, tardive dyskinesia, orthostatic hypotension, cardiac conduction disturbances, reduced bone mineral density, sedation, and cognitive slowing.

What are the main concerns with medications for the elderly?

Drug-related problems are common in older adults and include drug ineffectiveness, adverse drug effects, overdosage, underdosage, inappropriate treatment, inadequate monitoring, nonadherence, and drug interactions. (See also Overview of Drug Therapy in Older Adults.

How do Psychotropic drugs affect the body?

Physical effects include appetite changes, impaired body movement, and fatigue. Long-term, damage can occur to the gastrointestinal system if the drug is eaten or to the lungs if the drug is smoked. Most harm comes from damage to the brain, including to cognition and memory.

When are psychotropic medication used?

Psychotropic drugs are prescribed to treat a variety of mental health issues when those issues cause significant impairment to healthy functioning. Psychotropic drugs typically work by changing or balancing the amount of important chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.

What are psychotropic drugs used for?

Psychotropic medication is a broad term referring to medications that affect mental function, behavior, and experience (NSW Department of Health, 1997). Psychotropic medications are typically administered to older adults to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and/or insomnia.

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Which of the following adverse effects do antipsychotics increase the risk of in elderly patients?

Anticholinergic: Anticholinergic effects such as constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision, and urinary retention are particularly problematic in the elderly and may contribute to delirium. They are most common with low-potency traditional antipsychotic agents (e.g., chlorpromazine) and clozapine.

What is the most troublesome side effect of antipsychotic medications?

Tardive syndromes Tardive dyskinesia is one of the most dreaded complications of antipsychotic treatment, though it may also occur with other medication classes72.

What are the side effects of first generation antipsychotic drugs?

First-generation antipsychotics have a high rate of extrapyramidal side effects, including rigidity, bradykinesia, dystonias, tremor, and akathisia. Tardive dyskinesia (TD)—that is, involuntary movements in the face and extremities—is another adverse effect that can occur with first-generation antipsychotics.

Which problem is more likely to occur with drug therapy in an older adult patient than in a younger patient?

More Diseases That Affect the Response to Drugs: Older adults are much more likely than younger adults to have at least one disease — such as liver or kidney damage (not just the decreased function of older age), poor circulation, and other chronic conditions that alter their response to drugs.

What are the common causes of medication errors by older adults?

Inappropriate drug selection

  • Choice of an unsuitable drug, dose, frequency of dosing, or duration of therapy.
  • Duplication of therapy.
  • Failure to consider drug interactions and appropriate indications for a drug.

What are the possible problems of medication?

Some types of medication-related problems include:

  • Untreated conditions.
  • Drug use without an indication.
  • Improper drug selection.
  • Dose too low.
  • Dose too high.
  • Adverse drug reactions (side effects)
  • Drug interactions.
  • Failure to receive medications.
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What are the long term effects of psychotropic drugs?

And long-term use has been proven to create a lifetime of physical and mental damage, a fact ignored by psychiatrists. Common and well-documented side effects of psychiatric drugs include mania, psychosis, hallucinations, depersonalization, suicidal ideation, heart attack, stroke and sudden death.

Which are the psychotropic substances?

Examples of psychotropic substances include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, marijuana, and certain pain medicines. Many illegal drugs, such as heroin, LSD, cocaine, and amphetamines are also psychotropic substances. Also called psychoactive substance.

Can psychotropic drugs cause brain damage?

Research on other kinds of structural brain changes caused by antipsychotic drugs has been negative to date. There is no evidence, for example, that antipsychotic drugs cause any loss of neurons or neurofibrillary tangles such as are found in Alzheimer’s disease.

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