When discussing pharmacological considerations a 68-year-old client asks, "Why do medications seem to act differently than they did when I was younger?" The nurse bases the response on the concept that:
a. Age-related changes affect the way drugs are metabolized by older adults
b. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs have standardized dosages that are appropriate all ages
c. Older adults may need larger doses of medication to bring about the desired effects
d. Adverse drug reactions occur with similar frequency in older adults as the general population
ANS: A
Age-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes explain why older adults react differently to medications. OTC drugs can result altered drug outcomes since that relates to the individual's response to the medication. Age-related changes may require smaller doses of medication in older patients than in younger patients. The rule is to "start low and go slow." The older a person is, the more likely he or she is to have an adverse drug reaction.
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