Pharmacokinetic changes in the elderly.

Drug response in the elderly may qualitatively and quantitatively be different than that seen in young adults receiving an identical dosage regimen. Physiologic changes as function of age may have an important impact on the way the aged body handles the drug. This review addresses the pharmacokinetic processes of drug release from dosage form (liberation), the systemic uptake of drugs (absorption), biotransformation (metabolism), the loss of drug from the body (elimination) and clinical effect (response). Guidelines are given to be considered by the clinician in drug therapy in the aged.