Abstract
3/2013
vol. 5
Review paper
Polypharmacy in hospice patients – current situation, threats associated with adverse effects and drug-drug interactions and therapeutical implications
Medycyna Paliatywna 2013; 5(3): 79–87
Online publish date: 2013/11/08
Patients in palliative care take 0-20 drugs, with a mean 5-7. These include drugs used for symptom control, the treatment of concomitant diseases, and in some cases anticancer agents. Drugs used most commonly include: opioids (ap. 80-85% patients), protone pomp inhibitors, glucocorticosteroids (GCs), laxatives, antiemetics (50%), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), benzodiazepines (20 - > 60%), paracetamol (a few to c. 50%), cardiovascular agents and diuretics (30-40%). Neuroleptics (mainly haloperidol) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) are administered to 10-20% of patients. In about 20% an antibiotic need to be introduced periodically. Some of them such as ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin are CYP3A4 inhibitors, similarly to antifungal azoles, including fluconazole (used up to > 10%). Multiple of the drugs, particularly opioids, anxiolytics, hypnotics, NSAIDs, GCs and LMWH may cause serious side effects and dangerous drug-drug interactions. The article presents the review of updated literature, with therapeutic implications, that may help physicians to order the most effective and safe management.
Keywords
polytherapy, palliative care, adverse effects, interactions
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