Question

WEEK 2 LIFE SPAN/Peripheral Nervous System Case Study Safety: What Went Wrong? Polypharmacy and the Older Adult R.М., a 77-year-old retired librarian, sees several physician specialists for a variety of health problems. She uses the pharmacy at a large discount store but also has prescriptions filled at a nearby pharmacy, which she uses when she does not feel like going into the larger store Her medication list is as follows: Thiazide diuretic, prescribed for peripheral edema Potassium tablets, prescribed to prevent hypokalemia Beta blocker, prescribed for hypertension Warfarin, taken every evening because of a history of deep vein thrombosis Multivitamin tablet for seniors 1 What medications may cause problems for R.M.? Explain your answer 2. What measures can be taken to reduce these problems? R.M. visits the pharmacy to pick up some medications for her "aches and pains." She has chosen a popular over-the- counter nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, Two weeks later, she notices that she has increased bruising on her arms and legs, and that her gums bleed slightly when she brushes her teeth. 3. What went wrong? (Hint: check for potential drug interactions.) How could this problem have been prevented?

Answer 1

1. Here in the present scenario, RM is a 77-year-old retired librarian has taken different medications such as Thiazide diuretic, potassium tablets, Beta blocker, warfarin, and a multivitamin.

Here there is a problem or interaction occur between the co-administration of beta blocker and warfarin, that may result in hemorrhagic events.

2. Here we can reduce the problem of hemorrhagic events by changing the beta blocker drugs to some other else for treating hypertension when administering with warfarin.

3.  Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to interact with the oral anticoagulant warfarin and can cause a serious bleeding complication.

The combined use of warfarin and NSAIDs is generally discouraged because of the increased risk of bleeding in the patients.

We can prevent the problem by stopping NSAIDs to other alternatives of pain killers for her aches and pain.