title: Pharmacological treatment of geriatric cachexia: evidence and safety in perspective.
abstract: Anticachexic or antisarcopenic medications are prescribed worldwide for geriatric patients with poor appetite and associated weight loss. They represent a valuable treatment option for managing cachexia. However, the well-publicized adverse reports about these medications in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and in the cancer population has led to some concern and much subsequent discussion over the safety of these medications being used in geriatric population. This review looks at the evidence in relation to the benefits and risks of these medications and discusses what we know about their use in the geriatric population.
authors.affiliation: Northport VAMC, Geriatric division, Northport, NY 11768, USA. shingshing.yeh@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Shing-Shing
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Sherri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lovitt
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Schuster
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019167:Appetite Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D019167:Appetite Stimulants; D013759:Dronabinol; D019290:Megestrol Acetate