Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamic Changes Associated with Aging and Implications for Drug Therapy

Knowledge of the physiologic changes associated with aging is vital to providing optimal pharmaceutical care to geriatric patients. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of medications are affected to varying extents by the normal aging process and by disease states commonly associated with increasing age. Additionally, altered pharmacodynamics in the elderly-the magnitude of a drug's pharmacologic effect-may increase the risk for adverse drug effects in this population. The altered action and disposition of drugs in the elderly patient should be taken into account by health care professionals to improve adherence, provide appropriate counseling, minimize side effects, and reduce medication errors.