[Characteristics of pharmacotherapy of epilepsy in the elderly]

Parallel to the steady increase of the percentage of elderly people, treatment of epilepsy in the elderly is becoming more common. The pharmacotherapy of epilepsy in the elderly differs in some aspects from treatment in younger patients. In general, due to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes with reduction of metabolism and elimination, dose reductions are suitable to avoid drug intoxications. A standard treatment rule is to "start low and go slow". As the prognosis is favourable in the majority of patients the choice of a drug is influenced not only by its efficacy but also by possible side effects.