The Use of Psychotropic Medication in Hospital Settings - Research Paper Example

From the study it was evident that the factor which was strongly associated with fall was medication. Other risk factors determined by the study were level of activity, age of the patient,confusion, depression, history of fall in the past. staff vigilance and number of inpatients in the ward. According to Blair and Gruman (p. 353), it is very important for the staff of the hospital to know that risk assessment for falls in elderly patients must be continuous because the status of risk can change quickly, especially if the patient is on some psychotropic medication.

They opined that a fall prevention program must be present in all hospitals admitting elderly patients and nurses and other staff must be educated about strategies to prevent falls in that population. Another important aspect of medication is the inappropriate dosing of psychotropic medication which can increase the risk of falls. This aspect was studied by Peterson et al (p.802). The researchers studied the association between appropriateness of psychotropic medication and in-hospital fall rate.

From the study, it was evident that inappropriate dosing of psychotropic medication is strongly associated with falls. As such, psychotropic medications are associated with several side effects including falls leading to hip fractures, over sedation and delirium. Geriatric patients who are vulnerable may suffer from various injuries disproportionate to the fall when on psychotropic agents because; these medications are used frequently, slow the rate of metabolism and decrease physiologic reserve (Peterson, p.803). According to a meta-analysis by Leipzig et al (cited in Riefkohl, p.726), psychotropic drugs are strongly associated with falls.

The data for. From this paper it is clear that several medicines have been attributed to cause falls in the elderly population. In this regard, psychotropic medicines which are frequently administered for older people for various psychiatic and cognitive problems are studied widely and are known to increase the risk of falls. Medicines, especially psychotropic ones, cause orthostatic hypotension, confusion, oversedation, delirium, dizziness, cognitive changes and psychomotor impairment and thus contribute to falls.

Other medications which can increase the risk of falls are diuretics, antihypertensives and cardiovascular medicines. In this research article, the association between use of psychotropic medications and falls in elderly people admitted to hospital settings will be studied through review of suitable literature.As the discussion highlights inappropriate dosing of psychotropic medication is strongly associated with falls. As such, psychotropic medications are associated with several side effects including falls leading to hip fractures, over sedation and delirium.

Geriatric patients who are vulnerable may suffer from various injuries disproportionate to the fall when on psychotropic agents because; these medications are used frequently, slow the rate of metabolism and decrease physiologic reserve. Falls are a major source of concern among elderly patients admitted to hospital. Several risk factors are present which can be assessed using risk assessment scales.