Help for the hurting elderly

Preview

Prescribing drugs for pain in the elderly is difficult. Older patients are much more likely than younger ones to experience gastrointestinal and other problems from drug use and to be taking other necessary agents that interact with analgesics. In addition, age-related metabolic changes affect the potency and accumulation of drugs. Dr Egbert addresses these issues and gives practical tips for stepwise prescription of analgesics and adjuvant agents that may help control pain.