[Drug use in the elderly. Undesirable drug effects in the elderly: epidemiology and prevention]

Abstract

A COMMON PROBLEM: Adverse drug effects are common and severe in patients over 70. Most concern widely prescribed drugs or drugs with small safety margins.

Clinic: It is important to recognize the most frequently encountered modes of expression including cardiovascular, metabolic and neuropsychiatric manifestations. The effects of bleeding and low blood sugar are particularly severe.

Prevention: Certain pharmacological favoring factors are closely related to the aging process. A large number of iatrogenic side effects could however be avoided if the patientís clinical situation is carefully considered in light of the risk of drug interactions, the patientís behavior (observance errors), or prescriber behavior (inappropriate prescriptions in light of the therapeutic goals).