Pharmacotherapy
Posted by recep on June 25th, 2009Pharmacotherapy
After cardiovascular drugs, psychoactive drugs are the most frequently prescribed for older patients. Psychoactive drugs include antidepressants; anxiolytics; antipsychotics (neuroleptics); hypnotics; certain muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and antiparkinsonian drugs; lithium (for the mania of bipolar depressive disorders); and drugs that are claimed to enhance cognitive function (primarily memory).
The same dose of a psychoactive drug usually takes longer to work, remains in the body longer, and may produce a greater effect in an older person than it would in a younger person. Thus, the advice generally has been to “start low. go slow.” ie. to begin with a reduced dosage and to increase it gradually, if necessary. Attention should also be paid to potential interactions with other medications (see also Ch. 21).
There are four areas of pharmacokinetics (how the body handles the drug)—absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion—and one area of pharmacodynamics (how the drug affects the body)—CNS sensitivity—of interest in managing treatment with psychoactive agents.
Tags: Pharmacotherapy
