Polypharmacy risk, Beers Criteria medications, and age-related pharmacokinetic changes tested on NCLEX-RN.
30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is polypharmacy?
- The use of multiple medications, typically five or more, by one patient at the same time.
- What is the primary risk associated with polypharmacy in older adults?
- Increased risk of adverse drug events and drug-drug interactions.
- What organization publishes the Beers Criteria?
- The American Geriatrics Society.
- What is the purpose of the Beers Criteria?
- To identify medications that are potentially inappropriate for use in older adults.
- Why are benzodiazepines listed on the Beers Criteria for older adults?
- They increase the risk of falls, fractures, and cognitive impairment.
- Which benzodiazepine duration is more strongly discouraged in older adults, short-acting or long-acting?
- Long-acting (for example, diazepam).
- Why should first-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine be avoided in older adults?
- They have strong anticholinergic effects that cause confusion, dry mouth, and urinary retention.
- Name a common anticholinergic effect that can be mistaken for dementia in an older adult.
- Acute confusion or cognitive impairment.
- Why are NSAIDs high-risk medications for older adults?
- They increase the risk of GI bleeding and kidney injury.
- What is the "triple whammy" combination that raises acute kidney injury risk in older adults?
- An NSAID, an ACE inhibitor (or ARB), and a diuretic taken together.
- Why is meperidine avoided in older adults?
- Its metabolite accumulates and can cause neurotoxicity, including seizures.
- Why are skeletal muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine avoided in older adults?
- They cause sedation, anticholinergic effects, and increased fall risk.
- What nursing principle guides medication dosing in older adults?
- Start low and go slow.
- Why does gastric acid production tend to decrease with age?
- Age-related decline in parietal cell function reduces stomach acid, which can alter drug absorption.
- How does aging typically affect body fat and lean muscle composition?
- Body fat increases while lean muscle mass decreases.