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Drugs with anticholinergic side-effects in primary care
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice
|December 17, 2014
Summary
Anticholinergic drug use in Turkish elderly patients leads to frequent side effects like drowsiness and dry mouth. Doctors rarely assess fall risk or cognitive status before prescribing these medications.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric pharmacology
- Primary care medicine
- Patient safety
Background:
- Anticholinergic drugs are linked to serious side effects in the elderly.
- Limited data exists on anticholinergic prescribing patterns and side effects in Turkey.
- Elderly patients in Turkey frequently use primary care for chronic medication prescriptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and side effects of anticholinergic medications.
- To assess elderly patients (over 65) attending primary care centers in Turkey.
- To evaluate the risk assessment practices before prescribing anticholinergic drugs.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based interview with 563 elderly patients.
- Assessment of medication use and reported side effects.
- Performance of Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) and Standardized Mini-Mental Test (SMMT).
Main Results:
- 28 out of 563 patients (4.97%) were using anticholinergic medication for an average of 3.17 years.
- Common side effects included drowsiness (65%), dry mouth (53%), dry eyes (53%), and constipation (39%).
- No patients were evaluated for fall risk or cognitive status prior to anticholinergic prescription.
Conclusions:
- Reducing anticholinergic drug use is recommended for improved patient safety.
- Physicians should consider alternatives with lower anticholinergic burden.
- Pre-prescription evaluation of fall risk and cognitive status is crucial for elderly patients.
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