Adverse drug reactions mimicking disease

Advancing age is associated with an increased Prevalence of illness, often resulting in the requirement for multiple medications, placing the older person at increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Rather than simply attributing new signs and symptoms to progression of an old disease or the development of a new illness, the possibility that they are consequences of existing drug therapy should be considered. We present a case where symptoms associated with ADRs mimicked age-related diseases. Nursing home admission was avoided through recognition of the problem, and withdrawal of the offending medications.