This is an automatically translated article.
Posted by Doctor Doan Du Dat - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital
As our age increases, many body functions are impaired, health weakens. Therefore, the elderly are prone to many diseases and chronic diseases often have relapses. Especially bone, cardiovascular, respiratory diseases...
1.Notes in prescribing medicine for the elderly
Over time, some organs have significantly decreased in function, so it is easy to lead to slow response and then too strong response, that is, the therapeutic dose is very close to the toxic dose, especially is a group of antiarrhythmic drugs such as digoxin, or antihypertensive drugs such as calcium channel blockers that can cause orthostatic hypotension.
Often suffer from a combination of diseases; Taking medicine to treat one disease can make another disease worse. Moreover, the treatment of many diseases will easily lead to harmful drug interactions. For example, diuretics for high blood pressure can aggravate gout; Anti-inflammatory analgesics can cause ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, increase the likelihood of kidney failure.... Drug absorption: the digestive system of the elderly has many changes due to a decrease in the number of absorptive cells. Absorption is accompanied by decreased intestinal motility as well as decreased blood circulation to the intestine, leading to more difficult and slow absorption, while the drug stays in the gastrointestinal tract for a longer time, easily causing complications on the gastrointestinal tract. digestion.
Nếu sử dụng thuốc lợi tiểu chữa tăng huyết áp có thể làm nặng thêm bệnh Gút ở người già
Drug distribution: In the elderly, tissue mass decreases, so water volume decreases, but overall fat mass increases. Therefore, water-soluble drugs will be increased in concentration; and fat-soluble drugs will be slow to start, but increase the duration of action, easily leading to accumulation of toxicity.
Metabolism and elimination of drugs: the drug is eliminated mainly by the liver and kidneys, but in the elderly, both liver and kidney volumes decrease; blood flow is also reduced, thus affecting drug metabolism; lead to accumulation and toxicity.
2. Some unwanted effects may be encountered when using the drug in the elderly
Vulnerable to orthostatic hypotension: some parkinsonian drugs, antihypertensive drugs can cause hypotension when the patient changes position suddenly. Elderly people when taking this drug should be careful in changing positions (eg, when taking the drug, you have to get up slowly) Easy to fall due to postural imbalance: some sedatives, sleeping pills, anti-inflammatory drugs. Treatment for depression can alter an elderly person's ability to adjust balance, leading to falls. Falling of the elderly is very dangerous because at this time the bones have been thinned (loss of calcium in the bones, loss of bone flexibility), so brittle bones are easy to break and difficult to heal. Decreased body temperature regulation: sedatives, sleep-inducing drugs, etc. are very easy to cause hypothermia, if it's too low, it's easy to die.
Người cao tuổi sử dụng thuốc chống trầm cảm có thể gây lú lẫn,mất trí nhớ do tác dụng phụ của thuốc
Decreased cognitive function: there are some drugs with side effects causing confusion, forgetfulness, memory loss such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antihypertensive drugs,... some aggravating drugs more dementia disease Reduced function of internal organs: In the elderly, they are less active, have reduced gastrointestinal motility, so they are prone to constipation, improper use of some allergy drugs, pain relievers contain opiates, ... can cause constipation, intestinal obstruction. Old age is an important stage in human life. The aging process has many effects on the health of the elderly. On the basis of knowing the common symptoms of the elderly, medical staff in the process of medical examination, treatment and care for elderly patients need to pay attention to avoid causing unfortunate consequences. Especially, in addition to the attitude of exposure, much attention must be paid to the unwanted effects of the drug on the elderly body.
When the elderly have health problems, they can visit Vinmec. Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical facility in Vietnam with a team of highly qualified medical professionals, well-trained, domestic and foreign, and experienced.
A system of modern and advanced medical equipment, possessing many of the best machines in the world, helping to detect many difficult and dangerous diseases in a short time, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of doctors the most effective. The hospital space is designed according to 5-star hotel standards, giving patients comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
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