A 75-year-old woman with poor kidney function is prescribed
a painkiller that is normally removed from the body by renal clearance. The
doctor decides to give the drug less frequently than the standard dosing schedule.

Why is it appropriate to increase the time between
doses in this patient?

Question

A 75-year-old woman with poor kidney function is prescribed
a painkiller that is normally removed from the body by renal clearance. The
doctor decides to give the drug less frequently than the standard dosing schedule.

Why is it appropriate to increase the time between
doses in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Reduced kidney
function means less drug elimination, so less frequent dosing prevents
dangerous drug levels accumulating in the body

Answer

Impaired renal
function compromises metabolic enzyme activity, so reduced function means
higher doses are needed

Answer

Older patients have
more body fat, which causes drugs to be released more quickly into the
bloodstream

Answer

The drug will be
absorbed more slowly from the gut, so it takes longer to take effect

Crowdly

A 75-year-old woman with poor kidney function is prescribed a painkiller that i...

Want instant access to all verified answers on learning.monash.edu?