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Medication Use and Polypharmacy in Older Adults

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Geriatric Urology

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Abstract

Urinary system problems related to voiding are very common in older adults. Urinary incontinence is the most common complaint and most troublesome to manage in the older adult. Identifying the type of incontinence is the first step to approaching treatment or management. The symptom of urinary frequency is also problematic particularly when the older adult has limitations in mobility or cognitive deficits. These issues and concerns are often precipitated or exacerbated by common medications that are prescribed by physicians. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes that occur with aging, describe the impact of polypharmacy on bladder dysfunction, define the prescribing cascade and its impact on urinary symptoms, and identify the therapeutic classes of medications that can be the most problematic for bladder and voiding problems in the older adult.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Cedarville University, 251 N. Main St., Cedarville, OH, 45314, USA

    Marty L. Eng PharmD, C.G.P., B.C.P.P., C.D.P., F.A.S.C.P.

  2. Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Hospital, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., MS-1005, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA

    James T. Birch Jr. M.D., M.S.P.H.

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  1. Marty L. Eng PharmD, C.G.P., B.C.P.P., C.D.P., F.A.S.C.P.
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  2. James T. Birch Jr. M.D., M.S.P.H.
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Correspondence to Marty L. Eng PharmD, C.G.P., B.C.P.P., C.D.P., F.A.S.C.P. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology and the Landon Center on Aging, The University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

    Tomas Lindor Griebling

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Eng, M.L., Birch, J.T. (2014). Medication Use and Polypharmacy in Older Adults. In: Griebling, T. (eds) Geriatric Urology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9047-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9047-0_5

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