pharmacology in the elderly
Last reviewed 01/2018
Of particular note in the handling of drugs in the elderly are:
- metabolism: - liver function affected by illness, CCF, infections, dehydration, nutrition
- difficult to identify specific drugs: - renal excretion - GFR falls with age. - particular problems with digoxin, aminoglycosides, lithium, procainamide, tetracyclines.
- pharmacodynamic factors: - diminished responses to drugs