Drug therapy in the elderly: effects on mental status.
Persons over age 65 receive 25 to 30 percent of all drug prescriptions. Since the elderly often require numerous medications for multiple medical problems, the opportunity for deleterious drug interactions is increased. Overmedication, coupled with the older patient's susceptibility to drug toxicity, increases the risk of poor compliance and behavioral disturbances.
D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents