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Geriatric Gastroenterology pp 83–87Cite as

Pharmacokinetics of Aging

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Abstract

Aging is a determinant in the biotransformation of drugs with respect to their therapeutic efficacy and safety. Demographics indicate an aging population with a longer life expectancy. The elderly are the most medicated segment of the population, with the average older person taking three times more drugs compared to the young. Most older adults have at least one chronic disease state. Significant aging physiological changes impact on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, contributing to a higher incidence of adverse events, worsened by polypharmacy. About 10% of all hospital admissions in the elderly relate to drug interactions. Pharmacokinetics refer to the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs in the body. Pharmacodynamics relate to the pharmacological mechanism of drug action at its particular targets, including therapeutic effects and adverse effects. Pharmacotherapy is a challenge for the health care practitioner because of the need to dose appropriately to account for age-related changes in older adults.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank mentors Bhargava Kandala MS, PhD candidate, and Mark Haumschild PharmD, MS, both faculty at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy for providing oversight on the content and clinical relevance of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Shands Hospital, 1810 Northwest 23rd Boulevard, Apartment 160, Gainesville, FL, 32605, USA

    Ryan J. Haumschild MBA, BS

Authors
  1. Ryan J. Haumschild MBA, BS
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Correspondence to Ryan J. Haumschild MBA, BS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital, Department of Medicine, Saint Peter’s University, 254 Easton Ave, New Brunswick, 08901, New Jersey, USA

    C. S. Pitchumoni

  2. (North Division), Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 600 East 233rd Street, Bronx, 10466, New York, USA

    T. S. Dharmarajan

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Haumschild, R.J. (2012). Pharmacokinetics of Aging. In: Pitchumoni, C., Dharmarajan, T. (eds) Geriatric Gastroenterology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1623-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1623-5_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1622-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1623-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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