special factors
Last reviewed 01/2018
Special factors to consider when prescribing in the elderly include:
- poor autoregulation of cerebral blood flow
- hypovolaemia occurs with diuretics
- poor peripheral autonomic function
Also:
- diuretic-induced hypokalaemia
- diuretic-induced gout
- diuresis - prostatic hypertrophy in men may cause problems - incontinence in females
- neuroleptics - parkinsonism in patients on the verge of problems
- NSAIDS and gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- avoid using drugs to treat the adverse effects of other drugs