Question

The nurse works in an assisted living facility and cares for older adults. The nurse understands that older adults are at a greater risk for drug toxicity than younger adults due to which physiological change associated with aging?

A
Drugs are absorbed more readily from the gastrointestinal tract.
B
Older adults have a more rapid hepatic metabolism.
C
Older adults are often malnourished and anemic.
D
Older adults have less body water and more fat.

Answer 1

Older adults face a higher risk of drug toxicity due to changes in body composition, specifically less body water and more fat, which affects drug distribution and metabolism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Older adults are at a greater risk for drug toxicity than younger adults due to the physiological change associated with aging where older adults have less body water and more fat. This alteration in body composition affects the volume of distribution for hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, potentially causing drugs to have a longer duration of action and increased half-life. Additionally, the aging process can lead to a decline in renal and hepatic functions, which are responsible for drug metabolism and excretion, further increasing the risk of toxicity.