Medication safety in elderly patients

Abstract

The present manuscript describes health problems that commonly affect elderly patients and explain which and why some drugs increase the risk of having problems related to drugs. The physiological changes that occur with ageing and how these impact on drug therapy are also explained. A brief detail of drugs that commonly cause adverse drug reactions (ADR’s) are covered along with a plan for preventing them and improving the quality of life. compensatory mechanisms (homeostasis). Postural hypotension results from impaired baroreceptor function reduced compensatory tachycardia and vasoconstriction in response to hypotension and failure of cerebral blood flow autoregulation. Patients with impaired cardiac output and taking diuretics are especially vulnerable.