title: Antidepressant drug therapy in the elderly: enhancing safety and compliance.
abstract: This review article addresses some of the complex issues surrounding antidepressant drug usage among elderly depressives. While primarily geared toward the psychiatrist in general practice, the article provides useful information for the nonpsychiatric physician who is frequently called upon to evaluate and treat affective disorders in the geriatric population. Since tricyclic antidepressants and lithium are the most commonly used psychotropic drugs in the treatment of depression, their side effects and adverse reactions are discussed specifically as these relate to the elderly. Suggestions are offered on how to improve safety and enhance compliance. Brief mention is made of the monoamine oxidase inhibitors and the second generation antidepressants. Dose ranges are recommended for use of these agents in geriatric patients. Finally, a section of the article reviews the most commonly encountered encountered drug interactions between tricyclic and a variety of other psychotropic and nonpsychotropic drugs.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halaris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000657:Amoxapine / Q000009:adverse effects; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016642:Bupropion; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D004316:Doxepin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000139:chemically induced; D008094:Lithium / Q000506:poisoning / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008376:Maprotiline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014196:Trazodone / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D011427:Propiophenones; D016642:Bupropion; D004316:Doxepin; D008376:Maprotiline; D008094:Lithium; D000657:Amoxapine; D014196:Trazodone