Guidelines for prescribing psychoactive drugs in the elderly: Part 1

Primary care physicians are usually the first to see elderly patients with emotional problems secondary to dementia and other psychiatric disorders. Because these problems often can be treated effectively, physicians should have a working knowledge of the guidelines for optimal use of psychoactive medications. Part 1 of this two-part article discusses general prescribing guidelines based on the pharmacokinetics of aging and provides specific information about benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Antipsychotics and other psychoactive agents used to treat the elderly are discussed in part 2 (page 52).