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Medication Errors in Aging Adults: A Case-Based Approach to Medication Management

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Geriatric Emergencies

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Abstract

Medication errors and adverse drug events can lead to emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Polypharmacy, drug-drug interactions, and incomplete medication histories can lead to the use of potentially inappropriate medications in elderly patients. Physiologic changes in geriatric patients impact medication response and must be considered during prescribing. Elderly patients are at higher risk for adverse drug events from multiple classes of medications, including CNS depressants and anticoagulants. Practical approaches to preventing medication errors in the elderly include obtaining accurate medication histories, recognizing high-risk medications, which should be avoided, and involving a pharmacist in the care of geriatric patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northwestern Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL, USA

    Abbie Lyden

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Katherine Allen

Authors
  1. Abbie Lyden
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  2. Katherine Allen
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Correspondence to Abbie Lyden .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lee A. Lindquist

  2. Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Scott M. Dresden

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Lyden, A., Allen, K. (2019). Medication Errors in Aging Adults: A Case-Based Approach to Medication Management. In: Lindquist, L., Dresden, S. (eds) Geriatric Emergencies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12414-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12414-4_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-12413-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-12414-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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