Medication Use in Older Adults

Lynsey E. Brandt, MD, a geriatric medicine medicine doctor at Penn Medicine, discusses medication use in older adults.
Learn more about geriatric medicine at Penn Medicine: www.pennmedicine.org/geriatrics/
View Dr. Lynsey E. Brandt, MD's profile: www.pennmedicine.org/wagform/m...
This presentation was recorded as part of the Mainly Your Health speaker series at Penn Medicine Valley Forge on September 29, 2010.

[@bridgetmiller117]

My dad takes 21 medications up to 3 times a day! He's not doing well at all. Ever since he's been doing this at a nursing home he's been unable to walk because he shakes too much and looses balance so he's restrained to a chair. He's unable to talk because he's slurring and out of it. He's unable to eat by hisself. He's only 64 and has dementia. Everyone just thinks that his dementia has progressed due to his symptoms. They don't think that it's because of his medication that's causing his symptoms. Now everyone wants to sign a DNR form.

[@elainegoad9777]

You need to stop this over medication and physical restraint ! My husband had dementia and was allowed to walk freely in a locked unit as were others and they had extra staff to help. He was finally in a wheel chair but not restrained. One day this could be you or me !

[@1houndgal]

Don't sign it. Get him transferred to another place under a different doctors care. He needs a meds eval

[@taleaail2338]

Why is a lower drug dose indicated in elderly clients??

[@ithacacomments4811]

Medications can build up in the older adult body ....metabolism is slower...thus taking a full dose daily can lead to overdose.

[@1houndgal]

Older folks don't metabolize drugs as well as younger patients on average. Depending on their health conditions, some drugs can have adverse affects.