You will be giving meds for HTN, hyperlipidemia, GERD, depression, insomnia., pain medication, insomnia, anticoagulants and supplements
There is no specific medication for this population and meds will be the same as in any other healthcare setting. There is a concentration of issues that are endemic to geriatrics like: memory issues, constipation and depression that need to be addressed more than in acute care settings --where an issue is addressed and then the patient is discharged.
Think about the kinds of health problems older adults typically have. Many were smokers as young people, so respiratory medications such as inhalers,and sometimes portable oxygen as well. Cardiac medications, are a major category: both for arrythmias and potential clotting, but also for heart failure and angina. Diabetes medications are common, and so are preparations for hypothyroidism, whether natural like the Armour medication or synthetics like Synthroid. Osteoporosis is often a problem, especially with older women, and those meds can be oral (but must be taken with exacting care, or periodic IV preparations. Depression and anxiety are frequent problem for elderly living alone and most usually when family is at a distance and friends/spouse have died. Anxiety demands very careful management because benzodiaepines can easily contribute to falls. Dementia is another issue, but treatmetn goes much further than medicationwhich cannot cure but only postpone if symptoms are noted in time. The internal medicine/pulmonary practice where I now work several days weekly is 65% over age 60. I've just hit the highlights. As for specific medications, that all depends on the patients' allergies, what else they are taking, how they metabolize their meds, etc. Also cost and what insurance will cover is very often a factor when geriatric meds are prescribed since the majority of older people are covered by government insurance of one kind or another and a majority are retired and on a fixed income.
Hi. Some common medications geriatric patients take are Amlodipine, MiraLAX, Lisinopril, Insulin, Metformin, Simvastatin, Levothyroxine, Magnesium, and blood thinners. Geriatric patients need to be evaluated frequently - may be on multiple medications that have the same action and many are on herbs/grasses/healing plants that they don't mention because they don't consider them to be medication.
Every med. for every co-morbid condition an older adult can possibly be diagnosed with or advertised on the TV 😊
Typically what was given: BP meds, laxatives, acid reducers, multivitamins, weekly supplements like fosamax, insulin, aricept , pain meds
