Prescribing psychotropic medications for elderly patients

Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
Robert H Howland

Abstract

Compared with younger patients, the use of various psychotropic drugs is typically associated with expected, but exaggerated adverse effects in elderly patients. Falls are the single most important serious complication associated with all types of prescription and nonprescription drug use in older adults; psychotropic drugs contribute to or cause falls by various direct and indirect mechanisms, including sedation, confusion, vision changes, blood pressure changes, cardiac rhythm changes, balance problems, and neuromuscular incoordination. This article discusses dosage titration for elderly patients, laboratory testing for monitoring pharmacotherapy, and the importance of careful clinical assessment. In their role of providing, monitoring, and coordinating treatment, nurses should be knowledgeable about the appropriate use of medication in elderly patients.

References

Jan 1, 1997·International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine·S Banerjee, E Dickinson
Jul 14, 2004·The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry·Meryl A ButtersCharles F Reynolds
Sep 2, 2006·The American Journal of Medicine·Yuhong YuanRichard H Hunt
Dec 5, 2008·Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services·Robert H Howland
Jan 1, 2006·International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice·C EggerC Stuppaeck
Oct 1, 2005·Nursing Older People·Maggi Banning

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Citations

Feb 9, 2012·Respirology : Official Journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology·Paul A CafarellaPeter A Frith
Jan 31, 2012·General Hospital Psychiatry·Alexandra LeeBradley V Watts
Apr 6, 2013·Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services·Yasser Al-KhatibDavid Stockton
Nov 26, 2013·Blood·Dragana Milojkovic, Jane F Apperley
Nov 30, 2010·Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing·Rebecca Allan-Gibbs
May 24, 2018·Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association·Sara BayramzadehCandy Carmel-Gilfilen
Oct 16, 2010·Journal of Aging and Health·Frédéric BlochGilles Kemoun
Feb 10, 2010·The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse·Margaret S ChisolmHendrée E Jones
Aug 2, 2017·Metabolic Brain Disease·Anzelle DelportJacobus P Petzer
Feb 3, 2011·Korean journal of anesthesiology·Sang Il ParkYoun Hee Choi
Dec 12, 2012·Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P·Silvana Sidney Costa SantosRosemary Silva da Silveira

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