Debbie Rigby takes a look at the latest in research news
This narrative review covers four main safety concerns/potential harms of deprescribing in older adults: adverse drug withdrawal events, return of medical condition(s), reversal of drug-drug interactions and damage to the doctor-patient relationship. Clear and open communication to achieve shared-decision making is beneficial for positive deprescribing interventions.
Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 2017.
This randomised, open-label, cross-over, placebo-containing inhaler study assessed patient preference indicators for ELLIPTA and HandiHaler dry powder inhalers in patients with COPD. Ellipta was preferred in terms of number of steps to use, size, comfort of the mouthpiece, remaining doses, and ease of use.
COPD: Journal Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 2018.
Medications That Cause Dry Mouth As an Adverse Effect in Older People
A systematic review and meta-analysis has concluded that medication use is significantly associated with xerostomia and salivary gland hypofunction in older people. The risk of dry mouth was greatest for drugs used for urinary incontinence (oxybutynin, tolterodine, darifenacin, solifenacin), followed by antidepressants and psycholeptics (antipsychotics, anxiolytics, hypnotics).
J Am Geriatr Soc 2017.
Hormone Therapy for the Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Postmenopausal Women
This US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement recommends against the use of combined estrogen and progestin for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women. The Statement also recommends against the use of estrogen alone for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women who have had a hysterectomy.
JAMA. 2017;318(22):2224-2233.
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