An 84-year-old male who enjoys several drinks of bourbon nightly, falls and breaks his right hip. He takes diazepam to sleep, clonidine to control high blood pressure, and carbamazepine. (He has a history of seizures.) Which of the following agents may have contributed to his fall and injury?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Older patients are much more susceptible to the adverse effects of drugs and alcohol than younger patients. Drugs administered to the aged should be done so with caution. This patient is exposed to several agents that might affect his balance, awareness, ambulatory abilities, and ability to transfer from one position to another. All of them can contribute to falling.

An 84-Year-Old Male Who Enjoys Several Drinks of Bourbon Nightly