Author: Carlota RomeromartinPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
USE OF ANTIDEPRESSANT IN ELDERLY: FROM CURRENT EVIDENCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICEINTRODUCTION: in choosing an antidepressant in an older depressed patients it is recommended that selection be based on the best side effect profile, lowest risk of drug-drug interactions and pharmacokinetics profile in elderly. The aim of this study was to evaluate antidepressant prescription adequacy in institutionalized elderly based on the current evidence.OBJECTIVES: describe antidepressant prescriptions in a sociosanitary center and evaluate its adequacy according to the latest guidelines for antidepressant prescription in elderly.METHODS: retrospective, descriptive and transversal study about the use of antidepressants in elderly that involved 114 institutionalized patients 65 years of age and older. Evaluation of the adequacy of antidepressants prescription was evaluated in based of: indication and dosage in elderly. We obtained data of: age, sex, diagnosis, antidepressant and dosage from the electronic prescription and a computer-based medication prescription system for dispensing drugs in the sociosanitary center.RESULTS: We included 114 institutionalized patients (60% women, average age 87 [65-99]. 48,2% (n=55) were receiving any antidepressant: 32,7% (n=18) trazodone, 27,2% (n=15) escitalopram, 18,1% (n=10) mirtazapine, 11% (n=6) paroxetine, 5,4% (n=3) venlafaxine, 3,6% (n=2) sertraline and 1,8% (n=1) fluoxetine. We detected 7,3% (n=4) trazodone and escitalopram prescriptions using a higher than advised doses in elderly patients.CONCLUSION: there are more women institutionalized in geriatric centers. Almost 50% percent of institutionalized patients were taking any antidepressant. Trazodone and escitalopram were the drugs most prescribed. Trazodone prescriptions using a higher than referred doses were detected in less than 10% in our sample.
