Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption

As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Using the Novel Translation Validity Index to Evaluate GenAI Translations of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Into Nine Languages.

Journal of nursing measurement·2026

Same author

Lifestyle and Complementary Approaches to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome During Perimenopause and Menopause A Scoping Review.

American journal of lifestyle medicine·2026

Same author

Caring-Healing Modalities for Emotional Distress and Resilience in Persons with Cancer: A Scoping Review.

Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy)·2025

Same author

COVID-19 Pandemic and Posttraumatic Growth in Residents of a Continuing Care Retirement Community: A Mixed Methods Study.

Journal of gerontological nursing·2024

Same author

Experience of Transitional Care Among Thai-Isan Older Stroke Survivors and Their Family Caregivers.

Qualitative health research·2024

Same author

The Lived Experience of Parents of Children and Youth With Special Healthcare Needs on Public and Private Insurance: A Phenomenological Study.

Professional case management·2024

Same journal

Retraction: Empirical Concept Overview: Analysis of Optimal Nursing Staff Allocation in Hospital Acute Care Wards and Related Decision-Making.

Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing·2026

Same journal

[Application of Trauma-Informed Care in a Patient With Schizophrenia and Childhood Trauma].

Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing·2026

Same journal

[Maintaining Intimate Relationships After Total Penectomy: A Nursing Care Perspective].

Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing·2026

Same journal

[Improving the Fat Grafting Surgical Preparation Accuracy of Operating Room Nurses Using the ADDIE Instructional Model].

Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing·2026

Same journal

[A Quality Improvement Project to Enhance Sleep Quality Among Nursing Home Residents].

Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing·2026

Same journal

[Effectiveness of Dog-Assisted Therapy in Improving the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis].

Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty

Published on: October 6, 2016

[Polypharmacy issues in older adults].

Lenny Chiang-Hanisko¹, Jung-Ying Tan², Ling-Chun Chiang³

¹Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, USA.

Hu Li Za Zhi the Journal of Nursing

|June 6, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications in older adults, increases health risks. Nurses can implement strategies to detect and prevent polypharmacy, improving patient safety and outcomes.

Keywords:

older adults polypharmacy

More Related Videos

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults

Published on: February 2, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty

Published on: October 6, 2016

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults

Published on: February 2, 2020

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Clinical Pharmacy
Nursing Science

Context:

Polypharmacy is prevalent in older adults (65+), often due to multiple comorbidities like cancer.
The use of numerous medications elevates risks of drug interactions, non-adherence, and adverse drug reactions.
Defined as five or more prescribed medications or more than clinically justified, polypharmacy impacts quality of life.

Purpose:

To examine issues surrounding polypharmacy in the elderly population.
To identify and present nursing strategies and interventions for detecting and preventing polypharmacy.
To highlight the critical role of nurses in managing medication regimens for older adults.

Summary:

This article explores the challenges of polypharmacy in older adults.
It details nursing interventions focused on enhancing patient knowledge, medication management skills, safe practices, and education.
Nurses require comprehensive knowledge of medications and adherence factors, necessitating continuous education.

Impact:

Addresses the significant risks of morbidity, mortality, and functional decline associated with polypharmacy.
Empowers nurses with actionable strategies to mitigate polypharmacy risks in geriatric care.
Aims to improve the safety and well-being of older adults undergoing treatment with multiple medications.