Pharmacodynamic Basis for Altered Drug Action in the Elderly

Olanzapine Treatment of Psychotic and Behavioral Symptoms in Patients With Alzheimer Disease in Nursing Care Facilities

“…41,42 These, coupled with the ongoing neuropathology of AD, 43 potentially contributed to the decreased drug response seen with the high dose in the present study. 42,44 The 15-mg/d dose of olanzapine demonstrated a negative effect on tolerability and potentially affected efficacy.…”

Understanding and preventing drug interactions in elderly patients

“…A small change in drug blood concentrations from drug interactions can be significant in elderly patients because of age-related pharmacodynamic alterations. Many drugs, such as opioids, anticholinergic agents, and benzodiazepines have exaggerated actions in older people [13][14][15]. This enhanced sensitivity to drug effects are often exhibited as adverse reactions.…”

Toxic effects caused by rhubarb (Rheum palmatum L.) are reversed on immature and aged rats

“…However, people of different ages were of diverse physical states, hence the responses to drug treatment might be quite different, even opposite. The elderly patients often have a higher prevalence of adverse drug reactions than younger ones (Roberts and Tumer, 1988), so the efficacies of rhubarb on these people are different. These differences in tolerability or efficacy may be attributable to age-related physiological changes.…”