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[Good prescribing practice in the elderly]
Beate Wickop1, Claudia Langebrake1
1Apotheke, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.
Therapeutische Umschau. Revue Therapeutique
|May 29, 2014
Summary
Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) pose safety risks for elderly patients due to age-related changes. Utilizing tools like START/STOPP and PRISCUS can improve medication safety in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric pharmacotherapy
- Clinical pharmacology
- Patient safety
Context:
- Elderly patients frequently have multiple co-morbidities, leading to polypharmacy.
- Age-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes increase vulnerability to certain drugs.
- Standard clinical trials often exclude elderly patients, limiting guideline-based therapy evaluation.
Purpose:
- To discuss and explain various classifications for identifying potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) in the elderly.
- To highlight the importance of age-specific considerations in pharmacotherapy.
- To recommend strategies for improving medication safety in older adults.
Summary:
- Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are associated with increased risks in the elderly.
- Classifications such as START/STOPP, PRISCUS, Austrian PIM-list, and FORTA criteria aid in PIM identification.
- Regular medication review, renal function assessment, and cautious initial dosing enhance medication safety.
Impact:
- Improved quality of drug therapy for elderly individuals.
- Reduced adverse drug events and enhanced patient safety.
- Better management of polypharmacy in geriatric populations.
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