Question

Pharmacokinetics in relation to the older adult.

Answer 1

Pharmacokinetics is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the movement of drugs ( absorption as well as excretion of drugs) within the human body.

• Aging is a factor which affects the drug clearance from the body.
• Most of the drugs are eliminated through urine. So creatinine clearance is a major thing which affects the elimination of drugs.
• Creatinine clearance will be normal and maintained till the age of 40 in a healthy person. But after the age of 40 it decreases usually. If the individual is not having any serious health problems especially kidney disease then its not a problem.
• Usually older people will be affected with many health issues such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney failure etc. Such conditions affects the normal clearance of drug from their body thereby build up of that particular drug in their blood causing other signs and symptoms.
• Inorder to eliminate a drug from our body we need to drink the prescribed amount of water. But as you know older people may not be able to drink as much water as prescribed. So their renal system will not have that maturity to clear the drugs from their body. Thus the drug clearance are affected and cause many side effects in them.

Note: oldage is a factor affecting drug clearance from a person's body. But if the individual is healthy and free from any health issues then they can have prescribed drugs.