ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular drugs are prescribed widely in the elderly. Since many of these drugs have narrow therapeutic windows in the elderly, the incidence of drug-related adverse effects are greater than those observed in younger individuals. The appropriate use of cardiovascular drugs in the elderly requires a knowledge of age-related physiologic changes on drug pharmacokinetics and how the effects of concomitant disease (e.g., renal disease) can alter the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of various cardiovascular agents. The elderly are also more susceptible to drug-drug and drug-herb interactions.
Cardiovascular disease is the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly, and cardiovascular drugs are the most widely prescribed drugs in this population. Since many cardiovascular drugs have narrow therapeutic windows in the elderly, the incidence of adverse effects from using these drugs is also highest in the elderly. The appropriate use of cardiovascular drugs in the elderly requires knowledge of age-related physiologic changes, the effects of concomitant diseases that alter the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of cardiovascular drugs, and drug interactions.
