Question

What special considerations apply to administration of psychotropic medications to elderly patients? Include a list of all references used to support your answer.

Answer 1

Psychotropic medications are commonly administered in the elderly patients to manage commonly occurring behavior and psychiatric symptoms.

The administration of psychotropic medications to elderly patients must be accomplished with various considerations as it may lead to misuse. Further   there is decreased ability to metabolize these drugs and low serum protein levels may offer the high extent of free drug in the blood, developing potential threats of central nervous side effects, resulting in the delirium, tremor and dyskinesia.

Hence there is need to take the utmost care by the nursing staff in the management of such cases, while administration of the medication.

The dose administration should be performed as per the individualization of the elderly patients as they have compromised cardiovascular system, renal, or liver functioning.

Moreover the use of antidepressants, hypnotics and antipsychotics medications must be with the knowledge of the full functional history of a geriatric patient to assure effective and safe therpy by the nursing staff.

Reference:

Pamela L Lindsey. Psychotropic Medication Use among Older Adults: What All Nurses Need to Know. J Gerontol Nurs. 2009; 35(9): 28–38.