The pharmacokinetic imperative in late-life depression.
Older patients frequently have a high burden of medical illness, are subject to extensive medication regimens, and often experience adverse drug events. In general, pharmacokinetic changes associated with aging result in higher and more variable drug concentrations in older patients. Nonetheless, available information on pharmacokinetics of antidepressants is inadequate particularly with regard to medical subgroups and potential drug interactions. Although age-associated pharmacodynamic changes appear to make older patients more sensitive to side effects of antidepressants, differences in pharmacodynamics are not interpretable in the absence of drug concentration data. Population pharmacokinetics provides a means for assessing antidepressant drug exposure with relative ease and precision in clinical trials.
Pollock
Bruce G
BG
Academic Division of Geriatrics and Neuropsychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Thomas Detre Hall E-1234, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. pollockbg@msx.upmc.edu
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
D000928:Antidepressive Agents