POLYPHARMACY IN ELDERLY PEOPLE

  • Elaine Aparecida da Silva FAculdade Ingá
  • Luciana Conci Macedo Universidade Estadual de Maringá
Keywords: Elderly, Polypharmacy, Adverse Reactions, Interactions Of Medicines, Potentially Inappropriate Medicines

Abstract

Health conditions in human populations worldwide have improved with the consequent increase in the number of elderly people. Coupled to chronological age, numberless pathologies appear and cause the age-group to have the highest rate in medicine intake. Polypharmacy is defined as the concomitant use of two or more medicines or the unnecessary use of at least one medicine. Polypharmacy makes the elderly vulnerable to contrary effects and to medicine interaction, which increase when inadequate drugs are used. Risks from the inadequate use of medicine are highest during this phase of life. Health professional, including the chemist, should have special care with regard to polypharmacy and to the prescription of potentially inappropriate medicines so that a better life for the elderly could be achieved. Pharmacists are the health professionals that are aware of all the aspects implied in a drug and therefore may give important information to people with a guarantee for successful therapy and lower risks. Current analysis undertakes a bibliographical survey on polypharmacy in the elderly using books, journals and scientific literature site on the theme.

Author Biographies

Elaine Aparecida da Silva, FAculdade Ingá
Farmacêutica; Faculdade Ingá.
Luciana Conci Macedo, Universidade Estadual de Maringá
Doutoranda no Programa de Pós Graduação Biociências Aplicada a Farmácia na Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM
Published
2013-07-12
Section
Artigos de Revisão