Increased Risk of the Elderly for Poor Outcomes Related To
Polypharmacy, Secondary to Multiple Prescribers Polypharmacy is a growing concern among the elderly. According to Maher, Hanlon and Hajjar (2014), “nearly 50% of older adults take one or more medications that are not medically necessary” (p. 1). Duplication therapy often occurs as a result of multiple prescribers. Such an occurrence can cause crippling effects for an elderly patient. Research has indicated a “strong relationship between polypharmacy and negative clinical consequences” (Maher, Hanlon & Hajjar, 2014). These consequences may consist of but are not limited to increased risk of adverse drug events, drug-interactions, medication non-adherence, multiple geriatric syndromes …show more content…
He is 70 years old with a health history of type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic knee and back pain and angina post myocardial infarction. His current complaints consist of painful neuropathy in bilateral lower extremities and painful urination related to prostatic hypertrophy. His current lab results indicate elevated microalbumin. His blood pressure is borderline elevated at 144/84. He has been trying to correct his blood pressure with diet and exercise but has not been successful due to the effects of his heart disease, neuropathy and arthritis. He is currently taking lisinopril, HCTZ, atenolol, felodipine, glyburide and metformin. He is on simvastatin for cholesterol control however his HDL is low and his triglycerides are elevated at 260 mg/dL. He takes acetaminophen for his arthritis and gabapentin fro his neuropathy. He takes aspirin as a addition to his hypertension medications for his cardiac issues as well as nitroglycerin SL and patch for symptomatic angina. To help with his symptoms associated with his GERD, he will take ranitidine. He is taking 26 pills daily for his comorbid disease states. What can we do to help this patient control his blood pressure and complaints of pain without inducing drug interactions or possibly causing adverse drug events? These types of situations happen more than we are aware of and often times when more than one prescriber
Polypharmacy, Secondary to Multiple Prescribers Polypharmacy is a growing concern among the elderly. According to Maher, Hanlon and Hajjar (2014), “nearly 50% of older adults take one or more medications that are not medically necessary” (p. 1). Duplication therapy often occurs as a result of multiple prescribers. Such an occurrence can cause crippling effects for an elderly patient. Research has indicated a “strong relationship between polypharmacy and negative clinical consequences” (Maher, Hanlon & Hajjar, 2014). These consequences may consist of but are not limited to increased risk of adverse drug events, drug-interactions, medication non-adherence, multiple geriatric syndromes …show more content…
He is 70 years old with a health history of type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic knee and back pain and angina post myocardial infarction. His current complaints consist of painful neuropathy in bilateral lower extremities and painful urination related to prostatic hypertrophy. His current lab results indicate elevated microalbumin. His blood pressure is borderline elevated at 144/84. He has been trying to correct his blood pressure with diet and exercise but has not been successful due to the effects of his heart disease, neuropathy and arthritis. He is currently taking lisinopril, HCTZ, atenolol, felodipine, glyburide and metformin. He is on simvastatin for cholesterol control however his HDL is low and his triglycerides are elevated at 260 mg/dL. He takes acetaminophen for his arthritis and gabapentin fro his neuropathy. He takes aspirin as a addition to his hypertension medications for his cardiac issues as well as nitroglycerin SL and patch for symptomatic angina. To help with his symptoms associated with his GERD, he will take ranitidine. He is taking 26 pills daily for his comorbid disease states. What can we do to help this patient control his blood pressure and complaints of pain without inducing drug interactions or possibly causing adverse drug events? These types of situations happen more than we are aware of and often times when more than one prescriber