title: Observations on the psychopharmacology of the aged.
abstract: Psychotropic drugs are discussed under the descriptive categories of antipsychotic, antidepressive, antimanic, anti-anxiety, and cognitive acting. In the antipsychotic classification, special attention is given to side effects (extrapyramidal motor signs, tardive dyskinesias, akathisis) and to dosage for the elderly. The section on congenitive acting drugs includes some pertinent observations on cognitive ability in the aging, the importance of correct diagnosis, and therapeutic strategy. The aged are a population at risk for not only disease, but iatrongenic illness due to direct and indirect drug action. Rational therapy involves understanding the underlying dynamics of the disease and thus the selection of the most effective treatment. Psychotropic drugs in an appropriate program are valuable therapeutic assets.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D010640:Phenothiazines; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011926:Rauwolfia / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013888:Thiothixene / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002090:Butyrophenones; D010640:Phenothiazines; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D013888:Thiothixene; D008094:Lithium; D011433:Propranolol; D000547:Amantadine