Excerpt: Many studies from around the world show a correlation between increasing age and adverse drug reaction (ADR) rate, at least for some medical conditions. More than 80% of ADRs causing admission or occurring in hospital are type A (dose-related) in nature, and thus predictable from the known pharmacology of the drug and therefore potentially avoidable. Frail elderly patients appear to be particularly at risk of ADRs and this group is also likely to be receiving several medicines. The toxicity of some drug combinations may sometimes be synergistic and be greater than the sum of the risks of toxicity of either agent used alone. In order to recognize and to prevent ADRs (including drug interactions), good communication is crucial, and prescribers should develop an effective therapeutic partnership with the patient and with fellow health professionals.
Citation: Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2004 February; 57(2): 121–126.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.2003.01875.x
P A Routledge, M S O’Mahony,1 and K W Woodhouse1
Access full white paper here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1884428/