Adverse Drug Reactions in the Elderly

farmakoloji-11-2-2023-wos

Aygül DURDURUR ÇİNa , Hakan ERGÜNa

aAnkara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Ankara, Türkiye

ABSTRACT
The aging population has led to a rise in medication use and polypharmacy, especially for managing chronic conditions. A link between polypharmacy and negative clinical outcomes has been suggested in elderly, though establishing a causal relationship presents methodological difficulties. Polypharmacy carries an elevated risk of drug interactions and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). ADRs are more prevalent among the elderly, often resulting in hospitalizations. ADR-related issues in elderly are usually associated with numerous medications, especially with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, betablockers, antibiotics among many other drug classes. The increased susceptibility to ADRs in older adults can be attributed to age-related changes, which affect the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of the medicine and the frailty. However, the underrepresentation of elderly individuals in clinical trials hampers the understanding of their specific medication responses. Physicians caring for older patients should remain vigilant for ADRs, optimize medication regimens, and prioritize patient preferences and quality of life.
Keywords: Drug-related side effects; adverse reactions; elderly; polypharmacy

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