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Health, Medicine, Nursing
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Over-the-Counter Drugs in Frail Elders Research Assignment

Essay Instructions:

Select one of the following over-the-counter drugs commonly used by geriatric patients:
Antacids or acid suppressants
Antidiarrheal
Antihistamines
Antimicrobial ointments
Antispasmodics for the bladder
Cough suppressants
Laxatives
Neutraceuticals (choose one; e.g., ginseng, St. John’s wart, etc.)
Pain medications (choose one; e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen, rub-on pain ointments/patches, etc.)
Supplements (choose one; e.g., calcium, iron, etc.)
Vaginal creams
• Describe the over-the-counter drug that you selected.
• Identify the types/varieties of the drug that are available. Describe the ingredients in each type/variety including additional active ingredients.
• Explain the key information that you need to know about this OTC drug to make safe and effective clinical decisions. Include potential interactions in frail elders and describe any precautions related to the drug based on Beers Criteria.
• Explain how you would educate elders about the OTC drug you selected.
Reference
American Geriatrics Society. (2012). American Geriatrics Society updated Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Retrieved from http://www(dot)guideline(dot)gov/content.aspx?id=49933
This article examines three categories of medications that impact older adults: those that are potentially inappropriate and must be avoided, those that are potentially inappropriate and must be avoided in older adults with certain diseases, and those that must be used with caution.
Hines, L., & Murphy, J. (2011). Potentially harmful drug-drug interactions in the elderly: A review. American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, 9(6), 364–377.
Potentially harmful drug-drug interactions in the elderly: A review by Hines, L., & Murphy, J., in the American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, 9(6). Copyright 2011 by Elsevier Rapid Publications. Reprinted by permission of Elsevier Rapid Publications via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Over-The-Counter Drugs in Frail Elders
Students Name
Institutional Affiliation
Over-The-Counter Drugs in Frail Elders
Laxatives
Laxatives are Over-The- Counter (OTC) drugs used in treatment and prevention of constipation. They contain substances that have the ability to loosen stools thus boosting bowel movements. Laxatives are classified into various categories based on the side effects associated with and how they act in bringing the desired impact (FamilyDoctor.org, 2013). Most common laxatives are the lubricants, stimulants and saline. They are used in emptying the rectus and colon when bowel examinations need to be done. Laxatives come in the form of oral or suppository.
There are various varieties of laxatives depending on the type of active ingredient in them, properties and how they work. Some of these types are; bulk-forming agents, emollient agents, lubricant agents, hyper osmotic agents and saline laxative agents among others (FamilyDoctor.org, 2013). Bulk-forming agents include hydrophilic and fiber which acts by adding water and bulk to stools so as to increase its pass ability through the intestines. Examples are Metamucil whose active ingredient is psyllium husk and Citrucel which has methylcellulose as active ingredient (FamilyDoctor.org, 2013).
Emollient agents are anionic surfactants that enhance addition of more water and fats to stools so that they can easily move in the intestinal tract (Hines & Murphy, 2011). They contain an active ingredient which is 50 mg of docusate sodium. The drug in this category is docusate. Lubricant laxatives contains mineral oil as the active agent that acts by coating the stool with slippery lipids, reducing absorption of water from it in the colon so that it does not dry hence moving more easily (Hines & Murphy, 2011). Hyper osmotic laxatives have active ingredients such as glycerin, alcohol, lactulose and fruc...
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