Final answer:
Elderly clients are at risk for increased adverse effects from medications due to slower metabolism and other age-related physiological changes. They usually require lower doses and careful management to avoid medication toxicity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement that describes how elderly clients react to medications is that they are at risk for increased adverse effects. This occurs because as people age, their metabolic processes slow down, and their body's ability to break down and excrete medications becomes less efficient. Therefore, older adults often require lower doses of medication to achieve therapeutic effects and are more susceptible to the side-effects of medications. Contrary to tolerating medication better or metabolizing them quickly, the elderly actually process medications more slowly and need careful dosing to avoid toxicity. Additionally, due to various physiological changes, such as decreased organ function and altered body composition, elderly clients do not generally need higher doses than younger clients to respond to the same medication.
Studies indicate that the elderly population uses prescription medication at a high rate, which raises concerns about the management of medication and the potential for adverse reactions. With aging, factors like increased glucose intolerance and a weakened immune system further complicate the situation, making appropriate medication management essential for elderly patient care.