Optimizing Controlled Substances Prescribing to Avoid Drug Injury in Older Adults, and Drug Therapy for Depression

Course overview

Session 1 Avoiding Drug Injury in Older Adults A focus on controlled substances. 1. Discuss key physiologic and common pathophysiologic changes of aging that impact drug therapy. Case Study in Identifying and Avoiding Drug Injury in Older Adult. 2. Apply age-sensitive principles for medication dosing and management to clinical scenarios. Session 2 Optimizing Drug Therapy and Avoiding Drug Injury in Older Adults 3. List nine key questions useful for identifying and managing inappropriate polypharmacy (i.e. unnecessary medication use) in older adults. 4. Discuss high risk drug-drug and drug-dietary supplement interactions commonly encountered in primary care, including best practices in identifying and managing related toxicities. Case Study in Optimizing Drug Therapy in Older Adults 5. Apply practical tools to screen and appropriately manage complex drug regimens among older adults with or at-risk for drug injury. Session 3 Drug Therapy for Depression 6. Discuss pharmacologic management options within clinical cases of adults with depression. 7. Relate physiologic and pathophysiologic alternations of brain neurochemistry to symptoms of depression, including the genetic link and molecular basis of injury. 8. Apply clinical practice guidelines for antidepressant therapies. 9. Describe key parameters for medications used to treat mechanism, safety, tolerability, efficacy, cost, and simplicity of use. Case Study in Diabetes and Depression-diagnosis and treatment 10. Apply practical tools to screen diabetic patients for depression and to appropriately manage depression in diabetic patients. Session 4 Medical Management of Common Substance Use Disorders 11. Explore evidence-based treatment approaches for substance use disorders.. 12. Discuss strategies to fully engage patients and their families in the process, including shared decision-making and building trust. 13. Gain insights into pharmacotherapeutic treatments, including their mechanisms of action, risks, and benefits as well as relevant psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions.