Pattern of drug use in geriatric patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia

Abstract

Ninety-nine elderly patients aged between 65 and 84 years presenting for surgery have been studied as to their pattern of current drug use. Of these 47 (48%) were found to be on medication. Ten were on drugs prescribed by their physicians while 37 (37.5%) were on self-prescribed drugs. The self-prescribed drugs used were analgesics 23%. haematinics 8%. anti-inflammatory agents 6%. benzodiazepines 4%, steroids 2%. and oral hypoglycaemic agent 1%. Apart from the analgesics, patients did not know the names of the drugs they were taking. The dangers in the use of self-prescribed drugs in anaesthesia are highlighted and a plea is made for persistent effort to elicit information of drug use among the elderly presenting for general anaesthesia in order to avoid drug interactions.