Provide several examples of how age affects the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs.

Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Professions
7th Edition
ISBN:9781305441620
Author:WOODROW
Publisher:WOODROW
Chapter27: Drugs And Older Adults
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 14CRQ
icon
Related questions
Question

Provide several examples of how age affects the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs.

Expert Solution
Step 1

Aging can be defined as the changes in the body functioning due to progression of age. As the age progress, there are various changes occurs in the body and functioning of the cell and organs diminished. During any physiological stress, there are failure in maintaining homeostasis. Various functional units of the body like nephron, neuron, alveoli get diminished. This may lead to reduction in viability and surge in vulnerability. Aging not only lead to functional changes it may affect the anatomical changes also, due to that system decompensate when they work beyond their threshold.

Age related changes in –

Absorption –Due to age there are changes in the absorption process. Decrease in the area of small bowel, it slows down the gastric emptying and increase the gastric Ph.

Distribution- due to age the fat in the body increases and the total water decreases.  

 Metabolism- Hepatic metabolism through the cytochrome P-450 enzymes system get affected and decreases. Due to that the drug clearance diminished up to 50 %.

 Excretion of drugs- Renal elimination is very crucial which is decreases by age. After 40 years of age Glomerular filtration rate gradually decreases.

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Substance abuse
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, nursing and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Professions
Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Professions
Nursing
ISBN:
9781305441620
Author:
WOODROW
Publisher:
Cengage