Deck 3: Geriatric Pharmacology

Question 1

The pharmacokinetic process most affected by age is:

A) Absorption
B) Metabolism
C) Distribution
D) Elimination

Answer 1

Elimination

Question 2

A reduction in organ function affecting drug metabolism can occur from:

A) Genetics.
B) Nutritional deficiency.
C) Disease.
D) All of these are correct.

Answer 2

All of these are correct.

Question 3

The term used to describe a patient who is on multiple prescriptions is:

A) Medication error
B) Polypharmacy
C) Therapeutic duplication
D) Subtherapeutic response

Answer 3

Polypharmacy

Question 4

An elderly man has been given an adult-strength dose of the topical steroid hydrocortisone for the past four weeks.He has developed thin skin and stria along his back,suggesting toxicity.The cause of the toxicity would be:

A) Decreased absorption through interactions reducing the half-life
B) Increased distribution to adipose tissues, prolonging the half-life
C) Increased metabolism in liver, increasing the half-life
D) Increased excretion from the kidneys, increasing the half-life

Question 5

One way to improve compliance for a patient with arthritis would be to:

A) Encourage the patient to take medication on an empty stomach.
B) Suggest not using child safety caps on medication bottles.
C) Encourage the patient to read medication information literature.
D) Suggest drinking plenty of fluids when taking medications.

Question 6

Adequate nutrition in elderly patients is important for synthesizing drug-metabolizing enzymes.The body produces these enzymes from foods that are high in:

A) Fat
B) Protein
C) Carbohydrate
D) Nucleic acid

Question 7

Morphine,which has a high first-pass metabolism,would require what type of dosing change in an elderly patient?

A) Higher dose
B) Same dose
C) Tapered dose
D) Lower dose

Question 8

In which situation would you expect nutritional status to play a major role in an impaired drug response?

A) A comatose patient on TPN
B) A patient living with family members
C) A nursing home patient
D) A physically active senior citizen

Question 9

An elderly patient who drinks lots of water and takes a water-soluble drug can expect:

A) A toxic effect
B) A subtherapeutic effect
C) A therapeutic effect
D) Competitive antagonism

Question 10

Pharmacologic compounds that are most affected by liver enzymes in elderly patients are:

A) Oxidizing
B) Reducing
C) Chelating
D) Alkylating

Question 11

A patient having multiple chronic diseases can expect the consequences of a drug's action to be:

A) Enhanced.
B) Reduced.
C) The same.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 12

An elderly woman taking calcium supplements could improve absorption by:

A) Taking medication on an empty stomach
B) Increasing the medication dosage
C) Increasing the medication frequency
D) Taking medication with food

Question 13

Which of the following may contribute to drug toxicity in the geriatric population?

A) Increased activity of liver enzymes
B) Stable creatinine levels
C) Reduced production of plasma proteins
D) Leukopenia

Question 14

A chief complaint from elderly patients taking potassium bromide tablets would be:

A) Dosing frequency
B) Dietary restrictions
C) Difficulty swallowing
D) Small size

Question 15

An elderly patient was on medication for diabetes and hypertension before suffering a heart attack.Her cardiologist gave thorough directions on taking her new heart medications.A probable outcome to this situation would be:

A) Patient compliance remaining the same
B) A slight increase in patient compliance
C) A substantial increase in patient compliance
D) A decrease in patient compliance

Question 16

After 25 or 30 years of age what will be reduced by approximately 1 percent each year?

A) Cardiac output
B) Heart rate
C) Blood pressure
D) Blood sugar

Question 17

How would one expect the plasma creatinine levels to change with age?

A) Slight decrease
B) Remain unchanged
C) Dramatic decrease
D) Increase

Question 18

One approach that can be used to facilitate decisions and enhance compliance when explaining medications to an elderly patient is to:

A) Provide current pharmaceutical literature
B) Speak loudly
C) Use proper medical terminology
D) Use proper demeanor

Question 19

In relation to their medications,why is it important for elderly patients to increase their dietary protein intake?

A) To maintain appropriate albumin levels
B) To increase serum potassium levels
C) To lower serum triglyceride levels
D) To maintain serum calcium levels

Question 20

How would an elderly patient who smokes and consumes alcohol tolerate an adult-strength dose of actively oxidized medication compared to an elderly patient who did neither of these activities?

A) Could not tolerate
B) Would tolerate the same
C) Would tolerate better
D) Would need a higher dose