Pharmacotherapy Pearls for the Geriatrician: Focus on Oral Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Including Newer Agents

Ann J Biehl; James D Katz

doi:10.1016/j.cger.2016.08.001

Pharmacotherapy Pearls for the Geriatrician: Focus on Oral Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Including Newer Agents

Clin Geriatr Med. 2017 Feb;33(1):1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2016.08.001. Epub 2016 Oct 13.

Authors

Ann J Biehl¹, James D Katz²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 10 Center Drive, Room 1C240, Bethesda, MD 20892-1196, USA. Electronic address: ann.biehl@nih.gov.
² National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 6N-216F, Building 10, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

PMID: 27886691
DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2016.08.001

Abstract

Providing safe and effective pharmacotherapy to the geriatric patients with rheumatological disorders is an ongoing struggle for the rheumatologist and geriatrician alike. Cohesive communication and partnership can improve the care of these patients and subvert adverse outcomes. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and leflunomide, and the newest oral agent for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, tofacitinib, have distinctive monitoring and adverse effect profiles. This article provides the general practitioner or geriatrician with clinically relevant pearls regarding the use of these interventions in older patients.

Keywords: DMARDs; Geriatrics; Rheumatology; Tofacitinib.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

Administration, Oral
Aged
Antirheumatic Agents / administration & dosage*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
Geriatricians*
Humans
Practice Guidelines as Topic

Substances

Antirheumatic Agents