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KMID : 1024720130030010037
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Geriatric Rehabilitation
2013 Volume.3 No. 1 p.37 ~ p.41
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Pharmacokinetics and General Principle of Drug Therapy in Elderly
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Gu Nam-Yi
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Abstract
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Ageing is associated with the physiologic changes in the functions related to drug absorption, distribution and elimination. However, elderly patients were hardly included in the pharmacokinetic studies of drugs. Therefore, the drug therapies in elderly patients are usually prescribed based on the recommended regimens in younger patients. As ageing of each organ is not uniform even in an elderly individual, the approach based on the understanding of pharmacokinetic steps in major organs are important. The most critical changes in the pharmacokinetics of elderly patients are decreases in renal and hepatic functions. The alteration of the volume of distribution caused by changes in tissue composition is dependent on the polarity of a drug. Absorption of most drugs is not changed by ageing. As the pharmacokinetics and response of drugs in elderly patients are more variable than in younger patients, the careful education and monitoring are essential in the drug therapy.
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KEYWORD
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Pharmacokinetics, Elderly, Drug therapy
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