Older patients have some special challenges when it comes to taking medicines. Here are a few important points to understand:
Polypharmacy: This word means taking many different medicines at once. A lot of older adults use more than one medication. This can lead to problems, like when two drugs interact and cause side effects. For example, someone taking blood thinners might also take pain relievers, which can increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
Pharmacokinetics: As people age, their bodies change in ways that can affect how drugs work. For instance, older adults might not absorb, move through the body, or get rid of medications as well as younger people do. A good example is how kidney function decreases with age, which can impact how well some medicines, like digoxin, are removed from the body.
Cognitive Impairment: Some older patients may have trouble remembering to take their medications or following complicated schedules. This means they might need simpler plans or tools to help them keep track of their medicines.
Comorbidities: Many older adults face multiple health issues at the same time, which can make it tricky to create a treatment plan. Each medicine must be looked at closely to weigh its benefits against any risks.
In conclusion, it's important to pay attention to these challenges to help older patients manage their medications safely and effectively.
Older patients have some special challenges when it comes to taking medicines. Here are a few important points to understand:
Polypharmacy: This word means taking many different medicines at once. A lot of older adults use more than one medication. This can lead to problems, like when two drugs interact and cause side effects. For example, someone taking blood thinners might also take pain relievers, which can increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
Pharmacokinetics: As people age, their bodies change in ways that can affect how drugs work. For instance, older adults might not absorb, move through the body, or get rid of medications as well as younger people do. A good example is how kidney function decreases with age, which can impact how well some medicines, like digoxin, are removed from the body.
Cognitive Impairment: Some older patients may have trouble remembering to take their medications or following complicated schedules. This means they might need simpler plans or tools to help them keep track of their medicines.
Comorbidities: Many older adults face multiple health issues at the same time, which can make it tricky to create a treatment plan. Each medicine must be looked at closely to weigh its benefits against any risks.
In conclusion, it's important to pay attention to these challenges to help older patients manage their medications safely and effectively.