Applied Evidence

Strategies to reduce and prevent polypharmacy in older patients

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References

CASE

After applying Beers criteria10 and STOPP15, the pharmacist makes several recommendations:

  • Use aripiprazole and quetiapine with caution.
  • Consider discontinuing fluoxetine, hydrocodone–acetaminophen, lorazepam, pantoprazole, and ranitidine.
  • Reduce the dosage of gabapentin.
  • Clarify the indication for prazosin. Consider discontinuing if being used as an antihypertensive.

In addition, the pharmacist recommends holding metformin because lactic acidosis can develop (however rarely) when a person taking metformin experiences acute kidney injury.

CORRESPONDENCE
Tracy Mahvan, PharmD, BCGP, University of Wyoming, School of Pharmacy, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071; tbaher@uwyo.edu

Pages

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