Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy in the Elderly

Canan ULUOĞLUa , Erhan AKINCIb , Gökçen PAYKALa

aGazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Ankara, Türkiye
bAcıbadem Healthcare Group, Ataşehir Acıbadem Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, İstanbul, Türkiye

ABSTRACT
The aging process occurs at molecular and cellular levels in various organs, particularly in the central nervous system. As a result, changes are also observed in neurotransmitter systems. The increase in the incidence of some psychiatric disorders in the geriatric population may be due to these age-related changes/deficiencies (such as aging of the brain, brain pathologies, physiological disorders) or socioeconomic factors. In the elderly, the most frequently encountered situation regarding psychotropic drug use is the occurrence of a different or unexpected response to a specific dose of a medication when compared to a younger patient of the same gender and similar body weight. Although long-term studies on the use of psychotropic drugs in the geriatric population are lacking in the literature, this review covers changes in neurotransmitter systems in the elderly, important adverse effects of psychotropic drugs, and rational drug use approaches in geriatric psychopharmacology.
Keywords: Geriatrics; psychopharmacology; psychotropic drugs; neurotransmitter agents

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