Medication Use in the Elderly Patient: Physiology, Pharmacology, and Prescribing
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
This lecture was developed to teach 2nd year medical students to review basic pharmacology in preparation for their board exams. The presentation also helps them avoid adverse drug events in elderly patients and improve adherence with prescribed regimens. The presentation reviews basic pharmacology in the elderly, and specifically addresses which drugs to prescribe, which to avoid, when polypharmacy is an issue for older patients and how to decide which drugs and dosages to keep and which to lower or discontinue.
The goals of this lecture is: 1.) To raise awareness of the extent and seriousness of ADEs in older adults. 2.) To critically assess your own prescribing practices for older adults and how to individualize dosing and adherence strategies for an older adult. Upon completion of this lecture the students should be able to: 1.) Identify the physiologic changes associated with normal aging in relation to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; 2. )Identify risk factors for Adverse Drug Events in older adults; 3.) Recognize Adverse Drug Events; 4.) Recognize potentially harmful medications for older adults; and 5.) Utilize strategies to enhance the safety, effectiveness, and adherence of prescribed medications.
This lecture is best taught in a classroom setting. The presentation includes extensive speakers notes.