Pharmacology in Older Adults Flashcards
6 cards from real Gerontological Nurse Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Pharmacology in Older Adults flashcards as text
Which class of medications commonly causes anticholinergic side effects that are particularly harmful in older adults?
Answer: First-generation antihistamines
First-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine have strong anticholinergic properties, causing confusion, urinary retention, and constipation in older adults.
A nurse is reviewing the medication list of an older adult using the STOPP criteria. STOPP stands for:
Answer: Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions
STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions) is a European evidence-based tool that identifies potentially inappropriate prescribing in older adults.
Which laboratory value is the most reliable indicator of renal function for dosing medications in older adults?
Answer: Creatinine clearance calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation
Serum creatinine alone overestimates renal function in older adults due to decreased muscle mass; the Cockcroft-Gault equation provides a more accurate creatinine clearance estimate.
NSAIDs are generally considered inappropriate for older adults primarily because they increase risk of:
Answer: GI bleeding, renal impairment, and fluid retention
NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandins that protect the gastric mucosa and maintain renal perfusion, placing older adults at significantly higher risk for GI bleeding and kidney injury.
A patient taking metformin for type 2 diabetes is admitted with acute kidney injury. The nurse's priority action regarding metformin is to:
Answer: Hold metformin and notify the provider due to risk of lactic acidosis
Metformin is contraindicated in significant renal impairment because decreased excretion causes drug accumulation and life-threatening lactic acidosis.
The nurse is performing a medication reconciliation for a newly admitted older adult. Which finding is most concerning and requires immediate provider notification?
Answer: Patient takes both a tricyclic antidepressant and an SSRI
Combining a tricyclic antidepressant with an SSRI increases the risk of serotonin syndrome and significant anticholinergic burden, requiring urgent provider review.
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