Stolley J M, Buckwalter K C, Fjordbak B, Bush S
J Gerontol Nurs. 1991 Sep;17(9):12-7. doi: 10.3928/0098-9134-19910901-05.
Drug reactions are generally related to the influence of age, toxicity, side effects, immunologic reactions, idiosyncratic reactions, drug-drug interactions, and drug-disease interactions. In addition to age-related changes, the elderly are susceptible to the incidence of adverse drug reactions because of polypharmacy, incorrect self-administration of drugs, omission of drugs, taking another's prescriptions, use of over-the-counter drugs, and medication errors by health-care personnel. To prevent or predict adverse drug reactions, the gerontologic nurse can obtain thorough drug histories, educate clients and health-care providers, use nursing measures to alleviate symptoms, and be astute for the potential for problems through drug review.
