What are the medication contraindications for the elderly?
Medication use is common among the elderly, so what should be taken into consideration when it comes to proper medication use? What are the medication contraindications for the elderly?
Avoid excessive use of antipyretic and analgesic drugs
The elderly are prone to degenerative diseases of the bones and joints, which can cause lower back pain, leg pain, joint pain, and a habit of long-term use of antipyretic and analgesic drugs such as painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. In fact, long-term use of these drugs can do more harm than good and should not be encouraged. If the elderly use antipyretic and analgesic drugs in large doses or with short intervals between medication, it can cause fainting due to excessive sweating. Painkillers can cause a decrease in granulocytes, kidney damage, hemoglobin denaturation, and severe allergic reactions. Anti-inflammatory drugs can sometimes cause gastrointestinal bleeding and extraspinal lesions, among other toxic side effects, which should be taken into account.
Avoid excessive use of laxatives
The elderly often experience constipation due to their diet being too refined and low in fiber, reduced food and water intake, slow physiological bowel movements, atrophy of rectal muscles, decreased tension, or the formation of hard stools and prolonged retention in the intestines due to factors such as stress and illness. Prolonged use of laxatives such as liquid paraffin can lead to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), affecting calcium and phosphorus absorption and causing related deficiencies. Therefore, long-term use of laxatives should be avoided in the elderly. Instead, dietary adjustments, increased exercise, and the development of regular bowel habits should be encouraged. If necessary, medication such as suppositories can be used to alleviate patient discomfort.
Avoid casual use of sleeping pills
The elderly often experience prolonged sleep onset, shortened deep sleep, and early awakening. This is a normal physiological phenomenon in the elderly and does not need to be a cause for concern. However, if sleep is affected due to various reasons such as stress, climate changes, or medical conditions, the use of sleeping pills for necessary treatment may be considered. Due to the slower metabolism and excretion of sleeping pills in the elderly, long-term use can lead to dependence. Therefore, they should not be overused and should only be used occasionally and for short periods of time. If long-term use is necessary, it is advisable to constantly change the type of medication used to reduce the risk of drug dependence.
Avoid excessive use of antibiotics
Antibiotics are generally effective against bacterial infections. Some antibiotics are effective against rickettsia, chlamydia, mycoplasma, spirochetes, and fungi. However, antibiotics are generally ineffective against viral infections. Even in the case of bacterial infections, not all antibiotics are effective, so they should not be used indiscriminately. In addition, the various systems of the elderly have different degrees of decline in function, and even commonly used antibiotics can cause adverse reactions if used improperly. For example, penicillin drugs, there are two types commonly used: sodium penicillin G and potassium penicillin G. The excessive use of sodium penicillin G in the elderly can worsen cardiac burden due to decreased kidney function and exacerbate heart failure. The excessive use of potassium penicillin G in patients with renal insufficiency can cause hyperkalemia, which can lead to cardiac arrest. Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as streptomycin, kanamycin, and kanamycin are prone to accumulation toxicity in the elderly, causing kidney and ear toxicity. Long-term use of erythromycin in the elderly can cause liver damage. Chloramphenicol can cause aplastic anemia, and the incidence of this condition increases with age. The above information fully demonstrates the need for special caution when using antibiotics in the elderly.
