Are drugs really toxic for older people?

Abstract

Many diseases are now treatable with modern drugs. Elderly people, because they suffer from age-related illnesses, stand to gain the most, but they are also at risk from adverse drug reactions (ADRs). There are complex reasons for the increased frequency of ADRs, including poor prescribing, polypharmacy, altered drug handling and response, and poor compliance. Difficulties with interpretation of apparent ADR data include uncertainties about exposure and various confounding factors, for example, confounding by indication. Some simple prescribing guidelines can significantly help to minimise the extent of the clinical problem. These include:

• adverse drug reactions (ADRs)
• confounding
• elderly
• polypharmacy
• prescribing