What factors can affect a client's response to medication?

Age and gender are significant factors that can influence a client's response to medication. Age affects pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics—the processes of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion can differ across different age groups, particularly in children and older adults. For instance, older adults may metabolize drugs more slowly, leading to prolonged effects or increased side effects. Additionally, gender can impact how medications are metabolized due to physiological differences, such as body composition and hormonal variations, which may affect drug efficacy and safety.

Understanding these factors is crucial for tailoring medication regimens and achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. While blood pressure readings, frequency of medication, and a patient's insurance status can also be relevant in clinical decisions, they do not play as direct a role in the pharmacological effects of medications as age and gender do.