Elder care medication tips

 
Age-related changes can alter the way older people absorb, distribute, metabolize, and eliminate medications compared to younger adults or children. Medication dosages and routes may need adjustment to optimize the patient’s response to medication and help prevent adverse reactions. Understanding how age-related factors can alter how an older patient’s body uses medication will help you plan and implement your patient’s medication regimen and monitor the patient’s response appropriately. The table below describes how age-related factors can change the pharmacokinetics of medications in older adults.
 

Pharmacokinetics	Age-related change	Effect on pharmacokinetics
Absorption	Diminished quality and quantity of digestive enzymes	Decreased
	Increased gastric pH	Increased or decreased
	Decreased GI motility and emptying time	Decreased
	Decreased GI blood flow	Decreased
	Diminished number of absorbing cells	Decreased
Distribution	Diminished cardiac output and reserve	Decreased
	Diminished blood flow to target organs and tissues	Decreased
	Decreased lean body mass	Decreased
	Increased adipose tissue	Increased or decreased
	Decreased circulating plasma proteins	Decreased
	Decreased total body water	Decreased
Metabolism	Decreased liver size	Decreased
	Diminished intestinal and portal vein blood flow	Decreased
Excretion	Decreased GFR	Decreased
	Decreased renal tubular secretion	Decreased
	Decreased renal blood flow from renovascular occlusive disease, microvascular nephropathy, or HF	Decreased

 

Comerford, K.C. & Durkin, M.T.  (2023). Nursing2023 drug handbook. (43rd edition.) Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.