A nurse understands the pharmacokinetics associated with medications in the elderly
Which laboratory finding would the nurse associate with the greatest risk of increased drug effects in the geriatric patient who is taking a drug that is highly protein bound?
a. Low serum albumin level
b. High serum albumin levels
c. Low serum creatinine levels
d. Increased gastric pH
ANS: A
Reduced albumin levels in older adults can result in an increase in the levels of free drug in the system, creating more intense drug effects.
A high albumin level would not affect the intensity of a drug.
Low serum creatinine levels would not affect the intensity of a drug.
Increased gastric acid would not affect the intensity of a drug but may destroy it in the gut if it is acid labile.
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