Case study
Problematic Nature of the Patient’s Pharmacological Management:
Mrs. A’s pharmaceutical combination increases the risk of Digoxin toxicity and gastrointestinal difficulties, requiring monitoring and modifications. Dosing Furosemide and Digoxin together raises the risk of Digoxin toxicity, which can show up as signs like tiredness and confusion (Cummings & Swoboda, 2019). Additionally, Piroxicam is known to cause stomach problems, so using it simultaneously with Mylanta and Coloxyl may make it less valuable. These exchanges show the importance of carefully evaluating and making changes to protect Mrs. A’s health and lessen any adverse effects.
Pharmacokinetic Changes in the Geriatric Population:
Pharmacokinetic changes are evident in older people, which affect how the body processes medicines. Aging causes less absorption, which could affect how well drugs taken by mouth work (Butranova et al., 2023). A longer half-life is caused by changes in metabolism and altered distribution, which can cause changes in body makeup. Furthermore, Poor excretion, especially in people with poor renal function, increases the risk of drug accumulation and possible toxicity.
Changes in Renal and Hepatic Function:
Changes if the kidneys and liver function r significantly affect how to treat the disease. When renal function is lower, the dose may need to be changed to keep drugs from building up and increasing the risk of toxicity (Kyriakopoulos & Gupta, 2021). Additionally, liver problems might require changes in how drugs are broken down or the exploration of different medicines. This would ensure a personalized and safe treatment plan for people going through these physical changes.
Potential Side Effects and Interactions:
Side effects of Mrs. A’s recommended drugs include dehydration and an imbalance of electrolytes with Furosemide and nausea and confusion with Digoxin. Using Coloxyl for a long time also increases the chance of becoming dependent on it (Cummings & Swoboda, 2019). Additionally, taking Furosemide and Digoxin together may increase the risk of Digoxin toxicity, which stresses the importance of careful control to reduce harmful effects.
Polypharmacy Problems and Strategies:
Polypharmacy can cause interactions, adverse effects, and adherence issues. Mrs. A needs a complete medication evaluation to detect and resolve superfluous medicines and interactions (Varghese & Haseer Koya, 2020). Educating the patient on each medication’s purpose and proper use, along with regular monitoring for side effects and effectiveness, are critical to optimizing outcomes and safely managing her complicated pharmaceutical regimen.
References
Butranova, O. I., Ушкалова, Е. А., Zyryanov, S. K., Chenkurov, M. S., & Baybulatova, E. A. (2023). Pharmacokinetics of Antibacterial Agents in the Elderly: The Body of Evidence. Biomedicines, 11(6), 1633–1633. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061633
Cummings, E. D., & Swoboda, H. D. (2019, June 4). Digoxin Toxicity. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470568/
Kyriakopoulos, C., & Gupta, V. (2021). Renal Failure Drug Dose Adjustments. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560512/
Varghese, D., & Haseer Koya, H. (2020). Polypharmacy. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532953/