Psychopharmacology and the Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Interactions

Background: Although alcohol and prescribed psychotropic drug use has increased among older people, the usefulness of information provided about these substances in patients’ referrals to departments of old-age psychiatry (OAPsy) is unknown. Aims: To examine whether patients’ self-reported elevated use of alcohol and prescribed psychotropic drugs corresponds with information provided in the referrals to OAPsy departments and to explore the factors associated with elevated self-reported use of these substances. Methods: We recorded the information provided in referrals about the elevated use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in a sample of 206 patients (69 men) from 12 OAPsy departments. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) helped to assess self-reported use. We also collected demographic data, as well as information about cognitive functioning and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results: Seventy-three patients (35%) scored above the cut-off for alcohol use for women/men (AUDIT ≥ 3/4) or psychotropic drugs (DUDIT ≥ 6/8), if not both. Twenty patients (10%) reported an elevated use of both alcohol and psychotropic drugs, and the referrals for eight (40%) and ten (50%) of them, respectively, included information about this use. There was a significant association between self-reported use of alcohol above the cut-off and information about elevated use in the referrals. However, no such association was found between information in the referrals and self-reported use of prescribed psychotropic drugs. Elevated alcohol use was associated with more years of education, while elevated use of psychotropic drugs was associated with younger age and severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The information reported in referrals about the elevated use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs demonstrated a trend in associations with self-reported use. However, the risk factors for elevated use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in the elderly need to be examined further.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol and prescribed psychotropic drug use among patients admitted to a department of old-age psychiatry in Norway

Johannesen

Engedal

Larsen

et al. 2017

“…In the first two groups, simultaneous use likely occurred at least once during the past year. Because sedatives and hypnotics are often long-acting agents, particularly in older people ( Ramchandani et al, 2015 ), pharmacological interaction with alcohol may also occur when drinking the day after drug intake. In the third group, simultaneous use likely occurred several or many times during the past year.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concomitant alcohol and sedative-hypnotic drug use among the elderly in Norway

Bye

Rossow

2017

Background: Sedative-hypnotic drugs (i.e., tranquilizers and sleeping pills) are more often used among the elderly compared to other age groups. Concomitant use of alcohol and sedativehypnotic drugs constitutes a particularly high risk factor for accidental injuries among the elderly. However, few studies have addressed the prevalence of concomitant alcohol and sedativehypnotic drug use and knowledge about the characteristics of such use is meagre. Aim: To assess the prevalence of concomitant alcohol and sedative-hypnotic drug use among elderly people and to explore the characteristics of such concomitant use. Data and method: Data stemmed from cross-sectional population surveys in Norway, conducted in the period 2012-2015 (sub-sample 60-79 years: N ¼ 1920). Results: Respondents reported frequencies of use of sedatives (tranquilizers), hypnotics (sleeping pills) and alcohol consumption in the preceding 12 months. Sedativehypnotic drug use was reported by 25%, and 19% reported both such drug use and alcohol use in the past year. Concomitant use, suggesting simultaneous intake of alcohol and drugs, was reported by 6%. Conclusions: Concomitant use was more often reported by women, hazardous alcohol users, non-working respondents, and by those in the lower income groups and those living alone. Health personnel need to take into consideration the risks associated with concomitant use and to inform their patients accordingly.

“…En eldre kropp tåler alkohol dårligere enn en yngre kropp. Drikkevaner som tidligere i livet ikke ga somatiske og kognitive problemer, vil kunne gi det i eldre år (Aartsen, 2015; Ramchandani et al, 2015). Manglende toleranseutvikling hos eldre kan føre til koordinasjonsproblemer ved lavere alkoholinntak enn før.…”

Section: Diskusjonunclassified

Vurdering av helsetjenester for eldre med alkoholrelaterte problemer: Hva virker og hva kan bli bedre?

Næss

Nesvåg

2017

Bakgrunn og formål På flere områder skiller etterkrigskullene seg fra tidligere generasjoner. Gjennomgående har de bedre levekår med høyere utdanning, bedre økonomi, flere utenlandsreiser, sunnere matvaner, mindre tobakksbruk, mer fysisk aktivitet osv. Majoriteten eldre, og dette er rapportens tema, drikker også mer alkohol enn sine forfedre. Økt alkoholforbruk øker risikoen for alkoholrelaterte skader og sykdommer, med påfølgende behov innsatser fra helsetjenesten. 1 Populasjonen eldre er en heterogen gruppe. Noen eldre har friske leveår helt opp til 90-års alder. Et mindretall (økende) passerer også 100 år, før behovet for helse, velferd og omsorgstjenester (i et visst omfang) melder seg. Atter andre får aldersrelaterte plager allerede i 60 årene. Rapportens noe upresise begrep eldre, spenner med andre ord over naer to generasjoner. Med eldre menes i denne rapporten personer over 60 år, som har begynnende/eksisterende problemer av aldersrelatert karakter, og hvor alkohol mest sannsynlig er en direkte eller indirekte årsak til plagene. Rapporten beskriver hvordan erfarne fagfolk vurderer dagens helse, velferd og omsorgstjenesters kapasitet, evne og kompetanse til dekke målgruppens behov. Rapporten beskriver også typer av etablerte helsetjenester og hvilke helsetjenester som mangler. Metode Regionale helseforetak og fylkesmannsembetene ble tilskrevet med beskrivelse av oppdraget slik