The use and misuse of drug treatment

Abstract

The elderly have benefited at least as much as patients of all ages from the introduction of powerful modern medications. However, the availability of these effective drugs has brought with it considerable problems for the elderly patient, most particularly in toxic and unwanted side-effects, overdosage and poor compliance. It is now realized that the handling of many drugs in the body is less efficient than in younger people due to the ageing processes and chronic diseases that occur in the elderly. The drug effect on the target organ, especially the brain, may also be altered as a result of age. Perhaps the greatest problem in the elderly is the frequent failure of drug compliance, resulting in either overdosage or inadequate blood levels of prescribed drugs.