Why Is Mom Losing Weight? The Impact of Medication on Nutrition
An important yet overlooked consideration in the care of the elderly is the impact of medication on nutrition.
It is not uncommon for nursing home residents to be taking 9 or more medications. It is also not uncommon for physicians and nurses caring for nursing home patients to fail to consider the impact that medications may have on their patient’s appetite and their ability to absorb nutrients.
The remedy is simple and simply overlooked.
There is a dietary guide (Drug-Nutrient Resource) available in nursing homes and used by dietitians to assist them in evaluating unplanned weight loss.
The guide outlines the nutritional side effects of medications including appetite changes, weight changes, edema, altered taste, thirst, dry mouth, the risk of dental problems, GI distress, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, blood pressure changes, drowsiness/weakness, etc.
However, in nursing homes, where communication among disciplines is poor; physicians, nurses and dietitians don’t customarily discuss common interactions between medications and nutrition.
Informed advocates and families may be the only source of information pertaining to this risk.
