Geriatric pharmacology deals with the various changes in the human body as one ages, the way this affects the usage of prescription drugs, possible drug interactions to watch for in seniors and more.
The portion of the population over 65 years of age is more than 13% and this group is growing larger every year as the baby boomer generation continues aging. This group is at the age at which they are more likely to use medicines and prescriptions. In fact, the portion of the population that is 65 years of age and older purchases over one third of all prescriptions. Over the next 25 years, it's expected that the geriatric population will purchase almost 50% of prescriptions sold.
One major concern with prescriptions and the elderly is overprescribing and the negative consequences on health. Whenever multiple prescriptions are used, there is the concern for drug interactions (DDI) as well as an adverse drug event (ADE). Some studies suggest that in geriatric patients taking 5 or more drugs, the risk for ADE or DDI approaches 100%. Along with the possibly undesirable interactions, there could be a duplication of drug therapy and an excessive cost for the patient.
Of course the risk for drug interactions increases as the number of medications a person uses increases. Some of the more commonly seen interaction issues occur with cardiovascular and pyschotropic drugs. Some possible interaction effects include hypotension, confusion, and cognitive performance issues.
The potency of drugs can be related to the amount of water in the patient's body. In older patients, total body water decreases and creates a risk for unexpected high drug potency in the patient's system. Additionally, many drugs are renally excreted. Renal function decreases in older people and this can also affect the potency of prescriptions in the body.
Some elderly patients may assume that pharmacies are communicating with each other or are networked on their computers. This may be true in some cases but not in others. If seniors are encouraged to stick to using one pharmacy, some of the risks of geriatric pharmacology can be minimized. For customers that do use multiple pharmacies, maintaining a record of prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and alternative treatments is extremely helpful in avoiding undesired drug interactions.
While many elders will not question authority figures such as their doctor, they may have questions at the pharmacy while picking up their prescriptions. Having an understanding of these potential concerns can be helpful to both the customer and pharmacy employees.
Some research has estimated that up to 25% of hospitalizations in the elderly are related to drug interactions and complications. Bodily changes such as decreased circulation, decreased water in the body, and decreased renal function all can contribute to changes in the potency of drugs in elderly patients systems.
Although the senior person's primary care doctor should always be the authority regarding medications and prescriptions, this person may frequently have a need for assistance from their pharmacy. A pharmacist or pharmacy technician can help with issues of geriatric pharmacology as long as the patient and pharmacy employee fully understand that the doctor should be the ultimate advisor.