NSAIDS

Polypharmacy, described as an individual taking more than four medications, can be concerning with the aging population. Polypharmacy concerns include adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, higher cost, decreased mobility, decreased quality of life and cognition impairment. Those at greater risk of negative polypharmacy consequences include elderly, psychiatric patients, recently hospitalized, individuals with multiple doctors or pharmacies and people with impaired vision or dexterity. There are times that polypharmacy is at times needed to help a person with their diagnosis, an example of this is using multiple medications to treat congestive heart failure which can include digoxin, diuretics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

The use of prescription drugs is another gray area because it might be beneficial for the elders to take the legal drugs for their medical issues. However, they are often not concerned about their ability to become addicted to these drugs. They only focus on the relief that the drugs are offering them.

In most cases the reactions are mild and if they do occur then first-hand you should consult the medicine box/bottle/DOMAR where it will state any possible side effects on the leaflet or possibly on the main label ir you see on some pain medication ‘’Caution-May make sleepy do not operate heavy machinery’’ etc.

Are there any contraindications for this drug? Hypersensitivity, cross-sensitivity with other NSAID’s such as aspirin, history of allergic reactions, asthma, advanced renal disease, hepatic dysfunctions, perioperative pain.

Senior citizens are the people who are most likely to take multiple medications due to the occurring chronic conditions as the aging process continues. Given the several medicines they take, they are ironically the age group that is very much sensitive to medication side effects, both therapeutic and negative.

Nearly half of seniors do not take their medications when or how they were prescribed. There are mistakes on dosages, methods of delivery, time of delivery, what they should be taken with, and even if they should still be taken. Compounding the issue, most seniors over the age of 65 are taking between 8 and 13 different medications. Put these numbers together and it is no wonder that problems with medication management are one of the leading reasons seniors end up in the emergency room, and is the number one reason seniors end up back in the hospital after being recently discharged. According to a study published in "Pharmacotherapy", nearly 70 percent of hospitalized seniors suffered from at least one

“Amid Opioid Crisis, Insurers Restrict Pricey, Less Addictive Painkillers” by Katie Thomas & Charles Ornstein

How would you like to meet the most expensive drug dealer in the world? There are thousands of them. They live in your town, they work with you, and can live right next door, your own primary doctor. Some people are not aware how wide spread drug addiction is. Most drugs come from our primary doctor. Prescription pain medication are the number one cause of addiction. There are three ways to help with the prevention of pain medication addiction, through education, monitoring, and enforcement.

We know, of course, that this is not the case and their “recreational activities” will cause more harm than good for everybody, themselves, their families and first care responders. Easy access to these prescription drugs is becoming so out of hand that individuals that are actually in need of specific drugs now must go through hours upon hours of testing to see if they are being truthful or just trying to sneak a fast one past their medical providers for their own selfish benefit, whether it is to misuse the drugs themselves or to illegally sell them to others. According to the American Heart Association, even “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), including commonly used painkillers such as ibuprofen, can trigger or worsen heart failure by causing sodium and fluid retention and making diuretic medications less effective” (AHA, 2016). Not many people know what these drugs do besides alleviate their pain at times, so without this knowledge, it’s no wonder these painkillers and other prescription drugs are being so misused and abused by today’s population. In the event that someone had overdosed on said drug and had no known previous medical history that involved interactions with it, it puts the first care responder in an uncertain and dangerous situation that could jeopardize the victim’s life when it all could have been avoided. Now,

These non-opioid drugs have therapeutic effect and they also have side effects as well. These

Ellenbeck et al. (2004) conducted a study to identify nurses’ experiences and perceptions regarding medication and associated adverse outcomes related to polypharmacy. This non-experimental, descriptive study containing quantitative and qualitative data was used to determine the nurses’ observations and experiences. The sample included 101 home health care nurses from 12 agencies, who reported on 1467 patients. The collection of data was from the nurses’ responses to the questionnaire and surveys regarding medication management. The results of the study revealed 78% of the patients were at risk for medication error and 5% of the patients reported adverse effects of medications due to polypharmacy. In addition to lack of medication education, nurses reported that 5% of the patients were taking medications in which they did not have an order for, 9% of the medications were prescribed by more than one provide, and 5% of the patients medication orders were not updated in their records. The study also revealed that the nurses’ observations included older

Substance abuse is quite common in the elderly, and there are multiple reasons why. One reason is polypharmacy. This could be because they need to be on those medications or because of a underlying factor that ageism is in the healthcare system. This is more common that people think. With the shortage of staff, human error, miss diagnosing, or lack of knowledge; piling medications on top of one another without taking the time to see if they are really needed, or if they have any interaction when placed together polypharmacy tends to be one of the reasons the elderly abuse drugs unknowingly. They believe the doctors know best and do as told. Another way for polypharmacy to be a reason, is if the elder is having impairments with vision or cognitive

Adverse reactions to this medication are migraine, speech disorders, rhinitis, sinusitis, hyperglycemia, elevated liver function, elevated serum creatinine level, pancytopenia, bronchitis, dyspnea, toxic epidermal necrolysis, anaphylaxis, elevated creatine kinase, generalized pain, and infection. Nursing considerations with this medication is to have the patient swallow the whole tablet and not to chew. Watch for aspiration while watching the patient take the medication. Educate the patient about the medication and inform them to notify a physician if bleeding

Elderly patients that take several medications compound the risk of developing an adverse drug reaction. Not only does the aging process have an effect on how elderly bodies process medication, but elderly people take more medications than their younger counterparts. According to Conry (2005), the elderly patient takes an average of 5 prescription medications and two non-prescription medications (Conry, 2005). While medications are frequently necessary to enhance the quality of life of the elderly, non-pharmacologic methods should be used whenever possible. Healthcare providers need to understand how aging impacts the body’s response to medications, which drugs pose more risk to

Naproxen (Naprosyn) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) used to treat joint pain. M.H. was previously prescribed Naproxen to reduce the bilateral wrist pain and associated inflammation. Naproxen is mainly used to reduce inflammation, stiffness, and pain. NSAIDs block the formation of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are involved in the body’s normal function and inflammatory response. Proteins, Cox-1 and Cox-2, control these prostaglandins. Cox-1 controls the formation of the prostaglandins involved in the normal function of the body’s organs. Cox-2 controls the formation of the prostaglandins involved in the body’s inflammatory response. By preventing the body from producing prostaglandins, NSAIDs reduce swelling and pain.