PHARMACOKINETIC AND PHARMACODYNAMIC CHANGES IN THE ELDERLY - CLINICALIMPLICATIONS

Age-related changes in pharmacokinetics principally affect drug absorp tion, distribution, metabolism and elimination. Changes in pharmacodyn amics are primarily seen in the cardiovascular and neuroendocrine syst em. Age-dependent changes in the kinetics and dynamics of drugs acting on the cardiovascular system and central nervous system are common, a nd this review, while by no means exhaustive of the effects of drugs o n all organ systems, is reflective of the principles and gives example s of the effects of age on these 2 major systems. While pharmacokineti c changes in the elderly are usually well characterised, pharmacodynam ic changes are understood only in the most preliminary way. There has been relatively little research in this area of geriatric clinical pha rmacology, and pharmacodynamic changes are still an area of investigat ion.