Adverse Drug Reactions in Special Populations – The Elderly

The article chosen for the assignment is on adverse drug reactions in special populations who are the elderly. The discussion analyses older people as exceptional in terms of pharmacology as they differ from the rest of the people and young people in words of polypharmacy, comorbidity, and they have a vulnerability to adverse drug reactions. There are several age-related complications and changes in terms of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, which include the alteration in volumes of distribution of drugs, clearance, and metabolism, which prolongs half-life (Davies, 2015). In most cases, vulnerability is common in people from care and residential homes and the community.

            Some of the risk factors associated with ADRs in older people is evident in that they are at risk of developing complications. This is because they have a decreased psychological reserve, particularly among people with high comorbidity scores in people who are taking more than five medications and have been admitted in hospitals or care settings (Davies, 2015).

Strategies to Improve Medication Delivery

 Several ways can be implemented to ensure medication delivery among the elderly. One of the methods is minimizing medications if possible. The elderly are faced with a high risk of developing complications as they are old, and their bodies are weak in terms of pharmacology. However, doctors and other pharmacists are fast in prescribing medication as a way of treating symptoms while using a non-pharmacological treatment would be more sensible. It is up to the health professionals to ensure the treatment of health conditions that are identifiable and not through speculation. Older adults should ask their doctors whether it is possible to minimize drugs uptake or limit the number of medications taken each day to twice a day. Adherence to treatment as the requirement to take medicine less time a day decreases (Toverud, 2015). Similarly, taking more medication daily may put a person at risk of non-adherence.

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 The second strategy that can be implemented is to organize your medication. One way is to bring the medicines while visiting the physician. Any form of drugs, whether bought at the counter, herbal supplies, prescription medication, and even supplements and vitamins, are all medication, and it is paramount for the doctor to know about it in any way possible. As such, one needs to carry it when visiting the doctor as it would make it easier for the physician to put the person on care.

Physical Safety Issues among Elderly

            There are several physical limitations to care that affect older people. They include diseases like arthritis, joint pains stiffness and can interfere with the ability to perform the everyday tasks as well as work activities and leisure. This means that they have to be provided for care by doctors and other physicians, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Older adults face a problem of working according to their spectrum, even if most of them are retired. As such, it is essential for doctors to develop strategies that are aimed at improving their physical health that can have an effect on their body functioning. Exercising more and eating a healthy diet are some of the ways that doctors advise people to engage in if they want to live a long and healthy life after 65 years (Bherer, 2015).

References

Bherer, L. (2015). Cognitive plasticity in older adults: effects of cognitive training and physical exercise. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1337(1), 1-6.

Davies, E. A. (2015). Adverse drug reactions in special populations–the elderly. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 80(4), 796-807.

Toverud, E. L. (2015). A systematic review of physicians’ and pharmacists’ perspectives on generic drug use: what are the global challenges? Applied health economics and health policy, 13(1), 35-45.