Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Farmakoloji Anabilim Dalı, İnciraltı İzmir While the changes in the pharmacokinetic properties of the drugs related to aging have been well documented, the information about the changes in the pharmacodynamic properties is inadequate. Even when the drug concentration at the target tissue is the same, the effects of drugs in the elder population may be increased or decreased as compared to the younger people. The pharmacodynamic changes that may cause this difference may occur at the level of receptor, signal transmission, intracelluler response or homeostatic control mechanisms. Pharmacodynamic changes have been shown especially in the drugs affecting cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Drugs that demonstrate susceptibility related to aging (warfarin, diazepam, morphine,..) should be used with caution as they may cause serious adverse reactions. It should be kept in mind that during the use of drugs that have caused decreased susceptibility (beta agonists and antagonists), as well as those causing age related susceptibility, toxic reactions may occur because of increased dosage needed to provide effective treatment or compensate for therapeutic insufficiency. Keywords : Pharmacodynami, elderly, geriatri, drug effects