Features pharmacogenetics of drugs in the elderly

In elderly and senile changes the body's response to drugs as a result of physiological aging of organs and tissues and the presence of various comorbidities. With age increased frequency of adverse reactions to drugs. This fact is particularly important, because about half of the medicines consumed falls on people in older age groups.

Of particular importance is reducing the rate of biotransformation in the liver substance by reducing the activity of enzymes. The result is a slowdown (or distortion) metabolism of some drugs, increases the risk of complications of pharmacotherapy. Changes and excretion of drugs due to the decrease in renal blood flow (atherosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis), the mass of the kidneys and the number of functioning glomeruli. K 65 years their number decreased by 30%. Besides, slows tubular excretion. Reduction in body weight due to muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat leads to a change in volume of distribution of drugs. Apparently, may fail and the function of the receptor apparatus, but especially pharmacodynamics of drugs in the elderly are poorly understood.

It has long been assumed, that geriatric patients are much more "sensitive" to the action of many drugs, implying changes in pharmacodynamic drug interactions with their receptors. It is now recognized, many (perhaps, most) of these obvious changes occur due to violations of the pharmacokinetics or slow homeostatic reactions. Clinical studies have confirmed, that older people are more sensitive to some hypnotics, Sedatives and analgesics.