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dc.contributor.authorTimmons, S
dc.contributor.authorMcCarthy, F
dc.contributor.authorDuggan, J
dc.contributor.authorTwomey, C
dc.date.accessioned2012-02-03T15:09:12Z
dc.date.available2012-02-03T15:09:12Z
dc.date.issued2012-02-03T15:09:12Z
dc.identifier.citationIr J Med Sci. 2003 Apr-Jun;172(2):66-8.en_GB
dc.identifier.issn0021-1265 (Print)en_GB
dc.identifier.issn0021-1265 (Linking)en_GB
dc.identifier.pmid12930055en_GB
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10147/208986
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Elderly patients in long-term care units are frailer than their community-dwelling peers and may be more at risk from toxic side-effects of anticonvulsant medication at standard doses. AIM: To examine the prescribing of anticonvulsants to patients in elderly care units. METHODS: Drug prescription sheets and case notes were reviewed. Serum anticonvulsant concentration, renal and liver profiles and albumin level were measured. RESULTS: Anticonvulsants were prescribed to twice as many male as female patients (32 vs 14%; p<0.03) and to 33% of those younger than 80 years of age versus 10% of those aged 80 years or older (p<0.0002). No patient had significant hypoalbuminaemia and routine measurement of serum anticonvulsant concentration did not indicate an alteration of dosage. CONCLUSIONS: Anticonvulsants appear to be well tolerated in these patients. The younger age of those receiving anticonvulsants is inadequately explained by the characteristics of the patient cohort and may reflect a shift towards a younger age in patients requiring anticonvulsants due to increased mortality in this group.
dc.language.isoengen_GB
dc.subject.meshAgeden_GB
dc.subject.meshAged, 80 and overen_GB
dc.subject.meshAnticonvulsants/*therapeutic useen_GB
dc.subject.meshDrug Interactionsen_GB
dc.subject.meshDrug Utilization/statistics & numerical dataen_GB
dc.subject.meshFemaleen_GB
dc.subject.mesh*Health Services for the Ageden_GB
dc.subject.meshHumansen_GB
dc.subject.meshLong-Term Careen_GB
dc.subject.meshMaleen_GB
dc.titleAnticonvulsant use in elderly patients in long-term care units.en_GB
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland., suzannetimmons@hotmail.comen_GB
dc.identifier.journalIrish journal of medical scienceen_GB
dc.description.provinceMunster
html.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Elderly patients in long-term care units are frailer than their community-dwelling peers and may be more at risk from toxic side-effects of anticonvulsant medication at standard doses. AIM: To examine the prescribing of anticonvulsants to patients in elderly care units. METHODS: Drug prescription sheets and case notes were reviewed. Serum anticonvulsant concentration, renal and liver profiles and albumin level were measured. RESULTS: Anticonvulsants were prescribed to twice as many male as female patients (32 vs 14%; p<0.03) and to 33% of those younger than 80 years of age versus 10% of those aged 80 years or older (p<0.0002). No patient had significant hypoalbuminaemia and routine measurement of serum anticonvulsant concentration did not indicate an alteration of dosage. CONCLUSIONS: Anticonvulsants appear to be well tolerated in these patients. The younger age of those receiving anticonvulsants is inadequately explained by the characteristics of the patient cohort and may reflect a shift towards a younger age in patients requiring anticonvulsants due to increased mortality in this group.


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