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Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

340
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
340
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

305
In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
305
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution01:00

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

316
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
316
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

298
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
298
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption01:22

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption

788
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
788
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

308
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
308

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Updated: Mar 15, 2026

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Itch Management in the Elderly.

Tabi Anika Leslie1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.

Current Problems in Dermatology
|September 1, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Chronic itch in older adults significantly impacts quality of life. Management requires a holistic approach, addressing multifactorial causes and considering polypharmacy for effective relief.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Dermatology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Chronic itch (pruritus) is prevalent in individuals over 65, often exceeding six weeks.
  • Aging skin undergoes physiological changes affecting barrier function, immunity, and neurological responses.
  • Associated factors include xerosis, dermatological conditions, systemic diseases, and psychological changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifactorial causes of chronic itch in the elderly.
  • To discuss the impact of itch on health status and quality of life in older adults.
  • To outline diagnostic and management strategies for pruritus in geriatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of studies on chronic itch in the elderly.
  • Analysis of physiological, immunological, neurological, and psychological factors contributing to geriatric pruritus.

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  • Evaluation of diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions for chronic itch in older adults.

    • Main Results:

    • Chronic itch in the elderly is often multifactorial, stemming from aging skin, comorbidities, and polypharmacy.
    • Impaired skin barrier, immunosenescence, and neurological/psychological changes contribute significantly.
    • Drug side effects are a common cause or exacerbating factor of itch in this demographic.

    Conclusions:

    • Effective management necessitates a detailed history, thorough examination, and individualized treatment plans.
    • Topical therapies (emollients) and systemic treatments (antihistamines, gabapentin, antidepressants) are crucial for symptomatic relief.
    • A holistic, patient-centered approach is essential for managing challenging chronic itch in the elderly.