Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Drug interactions in the elderly.

J F Kurfees1, R L Dotson

  • 1Department of Family Practice, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, KY 40292.

The Journal of Family Practice
|November 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

St. Anthony's fire revisited.

American family physician·1995
Same author

Medical therapy for recurring catamenial pneumothorax following pleurodesis.

Obstetrics and gynecology·1993
Same author

Dermatology quiz #4. Erythema multiforme.

Missouri medicine·1993
Same author

Integrating human values in medical education: a physician preceptor program.

Family medicine·1989
Same author

Hematologic and coagulation studies on cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. A, Comparative physiology·1987
Same author

Acute pancreatitis: pathophysiology and pathogenesis.

American family physician·1981
Same journal

Does taking BP medicine at night (vs morning) result in fewer cardiovascular events?

The Journal of family practice·2023
Same journal

Preventing RSV in children and adults: A vaccine update.

The Journal of family practice·2023
Same journal

Essential oils: How safe? How effective?

The Journal of family practice·2023
Same journal

51-year-old woman • History of Graves disease • General fatigue, palpitations, and hand tremors • Dx?

The Journal of family practice·2023
Same journal

Renewing the dream.

The Journal of family practice·2023
Same journal

55-year-old woman • Myalgias and progressive symmetrical proximal weakness • History of unilateral renal agenesis, type 2 diabetes, and hyperlipidemia • Dx?

The Journal of family practice·2023
See all related articles

Elderly patients often take multiple medications, increasing risks for drug interactions. This study found many potential interactions, but few serious actual events occurred in older adults using five or more drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications, is a growing concern in the elderly population.
  • The risks associated with polypharmacy include adverse drug events and interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-alcohol interactions in individuals aged 60 years and older.
  • To assess the clinical significance of these potential interactions.

Main Methods:

  • A random sample of 400 patients (aged 60+) was selected from a university family medicine outpatient clinic.
  • Potential interactions involving 292 drugs were analyzed using The Drug Master computer program.
  • Chart review was conducted to identify actual interactions and their severity.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • A total of 1,052 potential interactions were identified: 426 drug-drug, 316 drug-alcohol, and 310 drug-food.
  • While 27% of drug-drug interactions were highly significant, no serious actual interactions were found in any patient.
  • Thirty-two percent of the study population concurrently used five or more medications.

Conclusions:

  • Despite a high prevalence of potential interactions, serious adverse events were not observed in this elderly cohort.
  • Polypharmacy remains a significant issue in older adults, necessitating careful medication management.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the long-term impact of potential interactions in this demographic.