Question

1. What changes in the elderly can affect the absorption of medications in the gastrointestinal system?

- decreased gastric pH (more acid)

-increased hepatic (liver) blood flow

-increased enzyme production

-reduced gastric emptying

2. A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. The nurse administering this medication will expect to do what

- Administer the drug at intervals longer than the drug half life

- Administer the medication intravenously

- Monitor plasma drug levels

- Teach the patient that maximum drug effects will occur within a short period

Answer 1

1. Absorption of drug influences the effectiveness of the drug.
Many physiological changes takes place in elderly that affects the absorption of drug.
An increase in the acid production in the stomach and reduced blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract reduces the absorption of drug in GIT.
Increased acid production which reduces the gastric ph decreases the solubility of drug and thus reduces its absorption.
Answer : decreased gastric ph.
2. Therapeutic range of the drug is the safe dosage range or safe plasma drug concentration required to achieved the desirable therapeutic effects.
When the therapeutic range of drug is narrow there is a small difference between the safe dose and overdose which results in drug toxicity. To prevent drug toxicity constant monitoring of drug plasma levels is required.
Answer : monitor plasma drug levels