ACC Medication Management and Health Monitoring 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Why is medication management particularly challenging for individuals with Alzheimer's disease?
- They metabolize drugs faster than average
- They may forget to take medications or take them multiple times (Correct answer)
- They are allergic to most common medications
- They require higher doses due to increased body mass
Correct answer: They may forget to take medications or take them multiple times
Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease causes patients to forget whether they have taken their medications, risking missed or double doses.
Question 2: What is the BEST tool to help ensure an Alzheimer's patient takes the correct medication at the correct time?
- Leaving medications on the kitchen counter
- Using a locked, automated pill dispenser with alarms (Correct answer)
- Allowing the patient to self-manage their medications
- Storing all medications in a single unlabeled bottle
Correct answer: Using a locked, automated pill dispenser with alarms
Automated locked pill dispensers with timed alarms reduce errors and prevent access to multiple doses at once.
Question 3: Which of the following is a common medication side effect that caregivers should monitor in Alzheimer's patients taking cholinesterase inhibitors?
- Increased blood pressure
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (Correct answer)
- Excessive weight gain
- Hyperactivity and insomnia
Correct answer: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil commonly cause gastrointestinal side effects including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Question 4: A caregiver finds an Alzheimer's patient confused and unusually drowsy after taking medications. What should the caregiver do first?
- Give the patient more water and wait
- Check the medications and contact the prescriber or Poison Control immediately (Correct answer)
- Administer a stimulant from the medicine cabinet
- Put the patient to bed and monitor in the morning
Correct answer: Check the medications and contact the prescriber or Poison Control immediately
Sudden confusion and excessive drowsiness may indicate a medication error or adverse reaction requiring immediate medical consultation.
Question 5: Which practice helps prevent medication errors when multiple caregivers are involved in an Alzheimer's patient's care?
- Each caregiver maintains a separate list
- Using a shared, up-to-date medication log or administration record (Correct answer)
- Relying on the patient to communicate their medications
- Keeping medications hidden from all caregivers
Correct answer: Using a shared, up-to-date medication log or administration record
A shared medication administration record ensures all caregivers know what has been given, preventing accidental duplicate dosing.
Question 6: What is polypharmacy and why is it a concern for Alzheimer's patients?
- Taking one medication for multiple conditions; it is generally safe
- Taking multiple medications simultaneously; it increases the risk of drug interactions and adverse effects (Correct answer)
- Taking medications at multiple times a day; it improves adherence
- Using pharmacy delivery services; it risks delays
Correct answer: Taking multiple medications simultaneously; it increases the risk of drug interactions and adverse effects
Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent use of multiple medications, which greatly increases interaction risks and side effects in older adults with Alzheimer's.
ACC Medication Management and Health Monitoring 1
Why is medication management particularly challenging for individuals with Alzheimer's disease?