Introduction
ife span of humans has increased in the recent years
due to social, economical and health care improvement.
Medical society has identified persons aged over 65 as
elderly while those above 75 as geriatric population. By 2050
the worldwide elderly population is expected to reach 1.4
billion which means that one out of ten people will be more
than 65 years of age. Currently population aging is most
serious in Europe and Japan. China is expected to have an
increase in the proportion of elderly people by next century.
The present elderly population in India is over 77 million,
constituting 7.7% of the total population and is expected
to rise to 100 million by 2013.1
Aging is associated with progressive decline in
physiological functions as well as multiple diseases like
diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and amnesia. These age
related changes associated with reduced income and
loneliness further worsen their health. 2,3 This results in
polypharmacy and increased incidence of adverse drug
reactions (ADRs) as shown in Fig. 1. It has been found that
35% of ambulatory older patients experience an ADR of
which 29% require health care services. Thus 40% health
service expenditure is spent on elderly in developed
countries.4,5 Hence it is mandatory for physicians to be aware
of normal age related physiological and pharmacological
changes taking place in old people. This will help to avoid
irrational prescribing, minimize ADRs and maximize
benefits of drugs in elderly patients. This review deals with
the age related alterations in pharmacological response,
precautions to be taken to avoid ADRs and principles of
prescribing drugs for elderly patients.
Pharmacological changes in elderly
Age related physiological and pathological changes play
a major role in altering the pharmacological actions of a
drug. The age related physiological alterations in various
organs and their consequences are shown in Table 1 and
2. Of these changes impaired hepatic and renal functions
play a significant role in decreasing absorption, distribution,
metabolism and excretion of drugs. These pharmacokinetic
changes alter free drug concentration which is a major
determinant of a drug’s potency and duration of action.
Apart from these changes, aging is also associated with
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Table 1 : Age related physiological changes and their consequences on drug therapy in geriatric population.4
System
Age related physiological changes Consequences
General
Increased body fat
Vd of lipid soluble drugs is increased requiring higher
Decreased total body water
dose eg. diazepam.
Vd of water soluble drugs is decreased requiring low
dose eg. aminoglycosides, digoxin.
Gastrointestinal tract Decreased gastric acidity
Absorption of basic drugs is enhanced eg. propranolol.
Decreased gastrointestinal motility
Absorption of acidic drugs is decreased eg. barbiturates.
Decreased hepatic and splanchnic Decreased absorption of drugs.
blood flow Decreased metabolism of drugs. eg. lignocaine.
Renal Decreased renal blood flow, glomerular Renal clearance is decreased and hence drugs excreted
filtration rate and tubular secretion
through kidney should be used cautiously eg.
aminoglycosides, digoxin, lithium.
Musculoskeletal Decreased muscle mass Resulting in functional impairment and fracture
Decreased bone density
requiring treatment, hospitalization, etc.
Cardiovascular system
Increased blood pressure Cardiovascular complications requiring treatment,
hospitalization, etc.
Central nervous system
Brain atrophy Results in forgetfulness, depression, Parkinson’s,
Decreased brain catecholamine synthesis
insomnia etc. requiring therapy.
Decreased dopaminergic synthesis
Decreased sleep (stage 4)
Genitourinary
Vaginal / urethral mucosal atrophy
Bacteriuria, increased residual urine volume requiring
Prostate enlargement
hormonal or drug therapy.
Endocrine Decreased BMR Resulting in Diabetes mellitus which needs life long
Vulnerable to stress
treatment.
Glucose intolerance
Vd – volume of distribution; BMR – basal metabolic rate.
Table 2 : Age related pharmacokinetic changes in the elderly.4
Pharmacokinetic parameter
Age related changes
Drugs
Absorption Nil
Distribution of
Lipid soluble drugs
Increased
Water soluble drugs Decreased
Acidic drugs
Increased
Basic drugs Decreased
Metabolism
Phase I Decreased
Phase II Nil
Excretion Decreased
pharmacodynamic changes like altered organ response
to drugs. These changes are vital as they contribute to the
variations in drug response.4
Pharmacodynamic changes
The end organ response to a drug is increased in elderly
resulting in toxicity at normal therapeutic doses. The
enhanced sensitivity is seen with commonly used drugs
like NSAIDs, opioids, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and
antiparkinsonian drugs.4 Some of the commonly used drugs
and their adverse effects in elderly patients are shown in
Table 3. Hence care should be taken to reduce the dose while
prescribing these drugs in elderly. Since, pharmacokinetic
changes are more important than pharmacodynamic
changes while deciding the treatment, this review gives
more details about these parameters.
Pharmacokinetic changes
Absorption
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Table 3 : Commonly used drugs and their adverse effects in
elderly.4
Adverse effects
First generation antihistamines
Promethazine, Strong anticholinergic and
Hydroxyzine
sedative effect.
Low potent antipsychotics
Chlorpromazine Strong anticholinergic and
sedative effect.
Prochlorperazine
Extrapyramidal and orthostatic
adverse events.
Long acting benzodiazepines
Nitrazepam
Long half – life resulting in
prolonged sedation,
Flunitrazepam
causing falls and fractures.
Analgesics
Pethidine Causes convulsions and renal
failure.
Propoxyphene
Combination of NSAID with
Warfarin
Increases GI bleeding.
ACE inhibitor Renal failure.
SSRI
Increases GI bleeding.
Diuretics Reduces the effect of diuretics.
ACE- angiotensin converting enzyme; SSRI – selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor
Oral absorption of drug is altered in elderly due to
fall in gastric pH, delayed gastric emptying, reduced
gastrointestinal (GI) blood flow and motility. The
consequences of these changes are shown in Table 1 and 2.
However, absorption of a drug does not change significantly
with age as other pharmacokinetic parameters.4
Distribution
The most important age related change is reduced renal
clearance seen in about two thirds of elderly patients.13,14
Drugs that are mainly excreted via kidney have a prolonged
half – life in patients with reduced renal function resulting
in drug toxicity at therapeutic doses. However, the decrease
in renal function as measured by creatinine clearance is not
associated with an equal rise in serum creatinine level. This
may be a consequence of declined muscle mass with age.
Hence a rough correction can be made by using Cockcroft
– Gault formula13,15 which is applicable to patients between
40- 80 yrs of age.
Cockcroft – Gault formula:
CLCr (ml/min) =
(140 – age in yrs) x weight in kg
72 x serum creatinine in mg/dl
This is a population estimate and hence may not be
applicable to a particular patient. In one third of the elderly
with normal renal functions, a dose correction based on
this formula will be too low. However, a low initial dose is
desirable if the physician is not sure of the patient‘s renal
status. Moreover, dose reduction is mandatory only for drugs
or their active metabolites which are excreted primarily
through kidney. For example the usual maintenance dose
of digoxin in normal elderly patient is 125 µg while in renal
failure it has to be reduced to 62.5 µg.
Nomogram is another approach for evaluation of
endogenous – creatinine clearance from age, body weight
and serum creatinine. This helps in determining the dose
and dosing interval of drugs like aminoglycosides and
vancomycin which are mainly excreted through kidney in
elderly with impaired renal function.16-18 In the schematic
nomogram shown in Fig. 2, the right hand ordinate indicates
the elimination clearance of drug measured in young adults
of normal renal function and left hand ordinate indicates
expected elimination clearance of drug in a functionally
anephric patient assuming that some of administered
dose is eliminated by non renal routes. The dotted line
connecting these points from the creatinine clearance in
abcissa can be used to estimate drug elimination clearance
in an individual patient.
Adverse drug reactions in the elderly
Drug related adverse effects have profound economic
consequences on elderly patients as well as on health
care system. Thirty percent of hospital admissions in
elderly people are drug related problems like depression,
constipation, falls, immobility, confusion and hip fracture.5,19
ADRs are considered the fourth leading cause of death in
United States next to heart disease, cancer and stroke.20
However, the incidence is underestimated as adverse drug
reactions mimic disease states and are less likely recognized
by physicians and elderly patients themselves.21
Adverse reactions occurring in the elderly may be a
result of intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors are
mainly patient related and include age related physiological
changes, altered pharmacological parameters, impaired
organ functions, female sex, drug interactions, small body
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size, severity of the disease, presence of multiple diseases
and polypharmacy. Extrinsic factors are physician related
and depends on prescribing pattern and medication
management.
Drug usage and frequency of ADR in the elderly
ADR in old people depends on the number of diseases
and the drugs used to treat them. More the number of
drugs prescribed higher the chance of drug interactions
and adverse drug reactions. Approximately 40 percent
of elderly people use at least five medications per week
and 12 percent use minimum ten medications per week.20
Positive relationship has been found between number of
drugs taken and the incidence of adverse reactions. Studies
have shown that 85-95 % of ambulatory elderly take at
least one medication with an average of three to four.2223
Drugs commonly associated with ADRs are sedatives,
antihypertensives, antiparkinsonian, antipsychotics,
Fig. 2 : Schematic diagram showing estimation of individual drug
clearance using a nomogram.
Endogenous creatinine clearance (CLCr) either calculated or measured
can be used to find out the individual patient’s drug clearance. This
information can be used to adjust dose and dosing interval.
NSAIDS, steroids and theophylline.24,25 Hence, a complete
drug history including over the counter medications is
mandatory prior to prescribing.
In the absence of precise clinical information, consensus
criteria can be used for safe prescribing in elderly patients.
One of the most widely used consensus criteria for drug
use in elderly patients was proposed by Beers et al in
1991.26,27 This criteria educates clinicians regarding the
drugs or classes of drugs to be avoided in elderly in
nursing home as shown in Table 4. These drugs were either
lacking in efficacy or pose high risk to patients while safer
alternatives are available. In 1997, the criteria were updated
and applied to all elderly patients.27 The Beer’s criteria for
ambulatory and nursing populations older than 65 years
had been revised and updated again in 2002.28 Some of
the drugs to be avoided in elderly people according to
Beers criteria are given in Table 4. Beer’s criteria should be
viewed as an important component of the clinical decision
– making process to ensure best possible outcomes for
elderly patients.29 However, aging and drug therapy are
individualized process, hence patient specific parameters
must be given preference while prescribing.
Precautions to be taken in elderly people to avoid adverse
drug reactions:
1. Ensure that the symptom deserving medical treatment
is not an adverse effect of another drug.
2. Drug therapy should be considered only if nonpharmacologic measure fails or if benefit outweighs
risk.
Table 4 : Some of the inappropriate drugs to be avoided in elderly according to Beers criteria26
Drugs Statement
1. Sedative - hypnotics
a. Long acting benzodiazepines eg. Chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, flurazepam
All drugs should be avoided
b. Short acting benzodiazepines eg. oxazepam, triazolam, alprazolam Night use > 4 wks to be avoided
c. Short acting barbiturates eg. Pentobarbital, secobarbital
All use should be avoided
2. Antidepressants : Amitriptyline
All use should be avoided
3. Antipsychotics
Haloperidol Doses > 3 mg/d should be avoided;
patients with known psychotic disorders may
require higher doses
Thioridazine Doses > 30 mg/day should be avoided
4. Antihypertensives
Hydrochlorothiazide Doses > 50 mg/day should be avoided
Propranolol
All use should be avoided except if used to
control violent behaviours
5. NSAIDs : Indomethacin, phenylbutazone
All use should be avoided
6. Analgesics : Propoxyphene, Pentazocine
All use should be avoided
7. Dementia treatment : Cyclandelate, Isoxsuprine
All use should be avoided
8. Platelet inhibitors : Dipyridamole
All use should be avoided
9. Histamine blockers : Ranitidine Doses > 300 mg/day and therapy beyond 12
wks should be avoided
10. Antibiotics : Oral antibiotics Therapy > 4 wks should be avoided except for
osteomyelitis, prostatitis, tuberculosis,
endocarditis
11. Decongestants : Oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine Daily use for > 2wks should be avoided
12. Iron Doses > 325 mg/day should be avoided
13. Muscle relaxants : Carisoprodol
All use should be avoided
14. GI antispasmodics : Dicyclomine
All use should be avoided
GI - gastrointestinal; NSAIDs – Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs
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3. Number of drugs and dosage form should be kept as
convenient as possible.
4. Potential drug interactions should be weighed before
including a new drug in the regimen.
treatment of moderate-to-severe musculoskeletal pain
and for greater analgesia addition of a weak opioid is
recommended.31,32
Edema
Mild oedema can be treated by non-pharmacological
measures like elevation of legs, supportive stockings and
active life style. If treatment with diuretics is needed it has to
be restricted for fewer days. Diuretics prescribed irrationally
for a longer duration may lead to postural hypotension
and falls.16
Other drugs
Drug induced bleeding is commonly seen in elderly
and hence drugs like co-trimoxazole should be avoided
unless there is no other alternative. Similarly the dose of
anticoagulant like warfarin needs to be decreased as it
causes serious bleeding in them.16 Moreover neuroprotective
agents used in elderly people for stroke have not shown any
beneficial effects in the long run. Hence by avoiding these
drugs adherence can be improved.
Adherence
Cognitive changes like forgetting to take pills at the
right time, economic stresses due to decreased income,
increased expenses due to illness, loss of spouse, physical
disabilities etc can reduce adherence in elderly people. This
can be improved by reducing the number and frequency
of drug administration as it is easy to remember. Dosage
schedule at night time is preferred for antipsychotic drugs to
reduce adverse reactions like drowsiness, sedation, postural
hypotension, etc. Similarly, diuretics are to be prescribed in
the morning time as they may disturb sleep given during
night time. Further drugs packed in readily openable
containers and labeled in large print are needed for elderly
patients with arthritis and poor vision. Big size tablets and
capsules should be avoided as elderly patients may have
difficulty in swallowing. Effervescent tablets and liquid
formulations like syrups are preferred in old people. If many
drugs are to be used together they should have distinct
colour and shape to avoid confusion to the patient.4
Above all educating the elderly patients regarding the
use and administration of drugs and the importance of
drugs to their well being is necessary to improve adherence.
It is also essential to discuss these things with a close
relative, friend, neighbour or any other care giver. Moreover
to be vigilant patients or their relatives should be asked to
bring the drug containers during follow up visits. If the drug
is found to be outdated or not needed in the future it can
be discarded after clearly explaining to the patient.4
Difficulties in setting therapeutic guidelines
for elderly patients
Since the elderly population is on the rise, understanding
age related physiological and pharmacological changes,
avoiding polypharmacy and regular review of all drug
treatment will help in rational prescription. Setting
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529
objectives and guidelines may reduce unwanted adverse
reactions due to inappropriate or over prescribing in elderly
patients (Fig. 3). Some of the following points can be taken
into account to reduce ADRs.
a. Need for the treatment
Non pharmacological measures should be considered
as far as possible before starting treatment for diseases like
obesity, mild hypertension and atherosclerosis. They can be
controlled by altered life style, regular walking, reduced salt
intake, cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption.
b. Choosing the appropriate drug
If the patient needs treatment, most efficacious drug
with less ADR targeting the cause than symptom should
be selected. The associated illness like renal failure, hepatic
failure, cardiac failure, diabetes mellitus and hypertension
should be also be taken into consideration. Avoiding drugs
like â blockers in hypertensive patients with history of
asthma or reducing dose of digoxin in elderly with renal
failure can prevent unwanted ADR induced diseases.
c. Formulation
Prescribing drugs in the form of syrups, suspensions and
effervescent tablets can improve adherence in elderly as
they find it easy to swallow. Similarly care should be taken
not to give drugs in child-resistant containers as patients
with debilitating diseases may find it difficult to open.
d. Maintaining record and periodic review
Maintaining a drug record will help to check adherence,
possible drug interactions, ADR and the economic burden
of the patient. Patients receiving long term therapy should
be reviewed carefully to assess the need for the drug.
Depending on the disease condition the drug can be either
stopped or changed.
Difficulties in setting guidelines
Older generation represent a high proportion of the
population receiving drugs like NSAIDs for rheumatoid
arthritis and osteoarthritis.33 Moreover, 80% of deaths due to
acute myocardial infarction occur in people above 65 yrs of
age.34,35 Hence drugs used for these conditions will provide
information regarding ADRs only if used in this population.
However, for safety concern this special population is
usually not involved in clinical trials. This limits the ability
to generalize study findings in the elderly population
which experiences multiple diseases.36,37 Of these, diseases
like diabetes mellitus and hypertension are chronic and
are not always effectively treated with drugs. Moreover,
physiological changes and the resulting pharmacokinetic
variations differ among elderly individuals. These factors
make therapeutic decision making or setting guidelines for
an individual elderly patient more complex.
Summary
Drug therapy in older patients varies from that of adults
due to altered physiological functions, associated illness,
age related disability, loneliness and stress. The success of
a drug therapy in elderly, depends on considering these
factors in addition to correct diagnosis, treatment plan,
prescription, patient education and dose adherence.
Care should be taken to avoid iatrogenic diseases in this
population by avoiding inappropriate prescribing. For
appropriate and rational prescription in elderly patients the
following factors should be taken into account
age related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
changes
socioeconomic, cultural and psychological factors
multiple diseases and altered presentation of illness
decreased vision, cognitive and hearing impairment
polypharmacy and increased susceptibility to ADRs
Above all adding quality life to years should be the major
concern of a physician than mere addition of years to life.
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Fig. 3 : Principles of prescribing in elderly.4,16
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