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Geriatric Pharmacology and Drug Prescribing for Older Adults

  • Chapter
Fundamentals of Geriatric Medicine

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Abstract

Upon completion of the chapter, the student will be able to:

  1. 1.

    Describe age-associated changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

  2. 2.

    Describe common adverse drug effects and drug-disease interactions in older adults.

  3. 3.

    Identify methods for enhancing older patients’ ability to manage their medications.

Material in this chapter is based on the following chapters in Cassel CK, Leipzig RM, Cohen HJ, Larson EB, Meier DE, eds. Geriatric Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach, 4th ed. New York: Springer, 2003: Avorn J, Gurwitz JH, Rochon P. Principles of Pharmacology, pp. 65–81. Beizer JL. Clinical Strategies of Prescribing for Older Adults, pp. 83–89. Selections edited by Rosanne M. Leipzig.

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Suggested Readings

  • Avorn J, Gurwitz JH, Rochon P. Principles of pharmacology. In: Cassel CK, Leipzig RM, Cohen HJ, et al., eds. Geriatric Medicine, 4th ed. New York: Springer, 2003:65–82.

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  • Beizer JL. Clinical strategies of prescribing for older adults. In: Cassel CK, Leipzig RM, Cohen HJ, et al., eds. Geriatric Medicine, 4th ed. New York: Springer, 2003:83–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leipzig RM. Prescribing. Keys to maximizing benefit while avoiding adverse drug effects. Geriatrics 2001;56(2):30–34. A practical guideline on drug prescribing for older adults. Includes a very useful table on what drugs to avoid in older adults.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Rosanne M. Leipzig MD, PhD (Professor and Vice Chair of Education)

Authors
  1. Rosanne M. Leipzig MD, PhD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Rainier P. Soriano MD (Assistant Professor and Director of Medical Student Education), Helen M. Fernandez MD (Assistant Professor and Fellowship Director) & Rosanne M. Leipzig MD, PhD (Professor and Vice Chair of Education) (Assistant Professor and Director of Medical Student Education),  (Assistant Professor and Fellowship Director) &  (Professor and Vice Chair of Education)

  2. ABIM Foundation and American Board of Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, USA

    Christine K. Cassel MD, MACP (President and CEO) (President and CEO)

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Leipzig, R.M. (2007). Geriatric Pharmacology and Drug Prescribing for Older Adults. In: Soriano, R.P., Fernandez, H.M., Cassel, C.K., Leipzig, R.M. (eds) Fundamentals of Geriatric Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-32326-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-32326-8_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-32324-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-32326-8

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