Drugs and prescribing in the older patient

Miles Witham; Denis O'Mahony; J George

doi:10.1093/med/9780198746690.001.0001

Drugs and prescribing in the older patient

Miles Witham
, Denis O'Mahony
, J George

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

The use of pharmacological agents is often a central component of medical therapy for older people. Medications can relieve symptoms, improve function, and prevent illness, but they also have the capacity to inflict great harm. Older people are at particular risk of such harms as a result of impaired homeostatic reserve, of altered drug metabolism, the presence of multimorbidity and consequent polypharmacy, which increases both exposure to potentially harmful agents and the chance of drug–drug interactions. The therapeutic priorities for older, frail people may differ when compared to younger, robust patients; limited life expectancy means that attempts to prolong life may become relatively less important than the relief of symptoms and avoidance of side effects and medication burden.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Oxford Textbook of Medicine
Editors	John Firth, Christopher Conlon, Timothy Cox
Place of Publication	United Kingdom
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Chapter	6.7
Edition	6
ISBN (Print)	9780198746690
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198746690.001.0001
Publication status	Published - 10 Mar 2020

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1093/med/9780198746690.001.0001

Cite this

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AU - O'Mahony, Denis

AU - George, J

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AB - The use of pharmacological agents is often a central component of medical therapy for older people. Medications can relieve symptoms, improve function, and prevent illness, but they also have the capacity to inflict great harm. Older people are at particular risk of such harms as a result of impaired homeostatic reserve, of altered drug metabolism, the presence of multimorbidity and consequent polypharmacy, which increases both exposure to potentially harmful agents and the chance of drug–drug interactions. The therapeutic priorities for older, frail people may differ when compared to younger, robust patients; limited life expectancy means that attempts to prolong life may become relatively less important than the relief of symptoms and avoidance of side effects and medication burden.

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DO - 10.1093/med/9780198746690.001.0001

M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

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BT - Oxford Textbook of Medicine

A2 - Firth, John

A2 - Conlon, Christopher

A2 - Cox, Timothy

PB - Oxford University Press

CY - United Kingdom

ER -

Drugs and prescribing in the older patient

Abstract

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