Pharmacology in the Geriatric Patient

Katherine Louise Welker; Mark B Mycyk

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2016.04.003

Pharmacology in the Geriatric Patient

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2016 Aug;34(3):469-81. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2016.04.003.

Authors

Katherine Louise Welker¹, Mark B Mycyk²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, 1900 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Electronic address: welkerk@gmail.com.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, 1900 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

PMID: 27475010
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2016.04.003

Abstract

The aging population of the United States creates pharmaceutical challenges for the practicing emergency physician. Polypharmacy, drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, and other pharmaceutical complications from the pathophysiologic changes associated with aging need to be recognized in order to optimize outcomes in the elderly. Effective strategies that improve patients outcomes include a better understanding of the physiologic and pharmacologic changes that occur with aging, integrated use of clinical emergency department pharmacists, and choosing nonpharmacologic treatment options when possible.

Keywords: Aging; Clinical pharmacists; Drug interactions; Polypharmacy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Aged
Drug Interactions
Drug Therapy*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Pharmacology
Polypharmacy