Lynda Bryant

Should we use medication in the elderly?

What are we trying to achieve when we use medicines in the very elderly? There is evidence that some medicines such as statins and blood pressure lowering medicines are beneficial in the elderly – and to not use these medicines is paramount to ageism. Yet these medicines may also cause adverse effects. What of quality of life versus quantity of life in the very elderly?

This is an interactive session and issues, including current evidence, will be a debated with the aim of the discussion being to help identify factors that may be relevant to the decision making process for the prescriber and the patient. Medicines to be included in the discussion will be statins, blood pressure lowering medicines, bisphosphonates and psychotropic medicines.  This is a patient-orientated, real-life practice discussion and audience participation will be sought.

Intended audience: Suitable for any healthcare professional who is involved with older people.

Biography: Linda Bryant is a Clinical Advisory Pharmacist working primarily with East Health PHO providing medicines information and clinical medication reviews. Her PhD through the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at Auckland University investigated the impact of pharmacists undertaking clinical medication reviews on medicines-related health outcomes. Linda is also involved in postgraduate teaching and undertakes other clinical pharmacy roles in primary care.