title: [Changes in pharmacokinetics in elderly patients].
abstract: Age-related physiological and morphological changes may influence drug disposition. Age-related decreases in gastric acid secretion, gastrointestinal motility and blood flow may alter drug absorption, but no significant age-related change in drug absorption is observed. With aging, body fat increases and total body water decreases. Therefore, water-soluble(hydrophilic) drugs have a higher peak plasma levels in the elderly. Inversely, lipid-soluble (lipophilic) drugs have an increased volume of distribution in the elderly. Age-dependent decrease in the serum albumin concentration influences drug protein binding potency. Age-related reduction in liver size, hepatic blood flow and hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activity decreases the hepatic drug clearance. The decreases in renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and tubular secretion have a considerable impact on the renal clearance of drugs.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadai
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katoh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004358:Drug Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations