Effectively managing drug therapy in the aging population is a multifaceted and often complex process. A delicate balance between must be maintained between therapeutic effects and adverse effects. Despite newer drug classes marketed for the treatment of insomnia, benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed for older people. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes occur with age that affect both drug concentrations and response to benzodiazepine therapy. The clinician's task is further complicated by extensive medication regimens often seen in older people that create the potential for significant drug interactions. This article reviews the pharmacokinetic differences in the benzodiazepines indicated for the treatment of insomnia, physio-logic changes that affect drug choice, and benzodiazepine-associated risks in older people.
展开▼
