Pharmacology case study | Nursing homework help
1. Reduced kidney function: Older adults are more likely to have decreased kidney function, meaning they may be less able to process drugs that affect their blood pressure.
2. Side effects: Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of these drugs and therefore need lower doses or different types of medications than younger individuals. It is important for doctors to closely monitor an older adult’s response to any medication prescribed for hypertension in order to ensure optimal results with minimum side effects.
3. Interactions with other drugs: Many older adults take multiple medications, so it’s important that healthcare providers look out for potential interactions between antihypertensive medications and other prescriptions or over-the-counter products an individual might be taking.
4. Cognitive impairment: For those who suffer from cognitive impairment, such as dementia, additional safety measures must be taken when prescribing a drug that affects blood pressure due to difficulty understanding instructions and risk of unintentional noncompliance with the medication regimen which could result in greater health risks.