Tag: Elderly

According to research, up to 18% of emergency department visits involving muscle relaxants were also linked to alcohol consumption. It is crucial to understand who should not take a muscle relaxer to avoid serious health risks, including amplified central nervous system depression.

Over 50 million adults in the United States use acetaminophen each week. Understanding who should avoid chronic use of acetaminophen is crucial for preventing severe health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Overdose rates from opioids among adults aged 65 and older increased significantly from 2021 to 2022, highlighting the critical dangers associated with these drugs in this population. It is crucial for healthcare providers and families to understand why opioids should be avoided in the elderly unless absolutely necessary and used with extreme caution.

A 2024 meta-analysis found aspirin therapy for primary prevention was associated with a 47% increased risk of major bleeding compared to no aspirin. Understanding **when should aspirin be stopped for primary prevention** is therefore crucial for mitigating these significant risks, especially in light of evolving medical guidelines.

While a systematic review found that music therapy could help reduce agitation in some institutionalized elderly patients, selecting what IV medication is used for agitation in the elderly requires extreme caution due to heightened risks of adverse effects. Pharmacological intervention is typically reserved for severe cases where non-medication strategies have failed and patient safety is at immediate risk.

The average lifespan is increasing globally, and with it comes a growing older population facing cardiovascular disease risk. For this demographic, a key question for patients and clinicians is, "At what age is statin no longer beneficial?" The answer is not a simple number, but rather a nuanced assessment that depends on whether the medication is used for primary or secondary prevention and the patient's overall health.

According to the FDA, piroxicam and other NSAIDs carry a black box warning for serious cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks, which can be fatal. Therefore, it is crucial to understand who should not use piroxicam before starting this medication.

According to a 2016 study published in *Neurology*, antibiotics may be linked to delirium and other brain problems more often than previously thought. The elderly are particularly susceptible to this side effect, prompting the critical question: **Can antibiotics cause confusion in the elderly?** This article explores the specific risks and provides vital information for patients and caregivers.

Serotonin syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening drug reaction, is associated with increased serotonergic activity in the central nervous system and can cause significant altered mental status. It is important for patients and clinicians to recognize the risk of such reactions, which can occur with sertraline use, especially when combined with other medications.

While less common than other adverse reactions, confusion is a reported side effect of metoprolol, a widely used beta-blocker for various heart conditions. A case study involving an elderly patient showed significant confusion and fatigue improved after their metoprolol dosage was reduced.