BCG Pharmacology & Medication Management in Older Adults Flashcards
6 cards from real BCG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 BCG Pharmacology & Medication Management in Older Adults flashcards as text
In an older adult, the volume of distribution (Vd) of fat-soluble drugs typically:
Answer: Increases because body fat percentage increases with age, prolonging drug effect
As body fat increases with age, fat-soluble drugs accumulate in adipose tissue, increasing their volume of distribution and prolonging their duration of action.
Which medication used for overactive bladder is most problematic for cognitively vulnerable older adults?
Answer: Oxybutynin
Oxybutynin has strong anticholinergic properties that cross the blood-brain barrier, making it particularly likely to cause cognitive impairment and delirium in older adults.
When using the STOPP/START tool in geriatric medication review, the START criteria identify:
Answer: Evidence-based medications that are potentially under-prescribed in older adults
The START (Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment) criteria flag evidence-based therapies that are potentially being omitted in older adults.
An older adult with insomnia asks about sleep aids. Which agent is considered safest compared to alternatives?
Answer: Low-dose melatonin with sleep hygiene education
Low-dose melatonin combined with sleep hygiene strategies is preferred because it lacks the sedation, fall risk, and cognitive side effects of benzodiazepines and antihistamines.
Which pharmacodynamic change in older adults increases sensitivity to CNS-depressant drugs even at standard doses?
Answer: Increased CNS receptor sensitivity and decreased homeostatic reserve
Older adults have increased CNS receptor sensitivity and diminished compensatory mechanisms, resulting in exaggerated CNS depression at doses well tolerated by younger adults.
A gerontological nurse is reviewing a patient's medications and finds duplicate therapy. Which situation best exemplifies this?
Answer: A patient prescribed both naproxen and ibuprofen for pain
Prescribing two different NSAIDs simultaneously constitutes duplicate therapy because they share the same mechanism, doubling adverse effect risk without added benefit.
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