At Any Age, It Does Matter:
Substance Abuse and Older Adults (for Professionals)

Supplements

Effects of Aging on Response to Drug Effect

Drug Brand Name Action Effects of Aging
Analgesics
Aspirin Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, Empirin Acute gastroduodenal mucosal damage No change
Morphine Kadian, MS Contin Acute analgesic effect Increased
Pentazocine Talwin Analgesic effect Increased
Anticoagulants
Heparin Calciparine, Liquaemin Activated partial thromboplastin time No change
Warfarin Aldocumar, Athrombin, Coumadin, Marevam, Orafarin, Sofarin Prothrombin time Increased
Bronchodilators
Albuterol Proventil, Ventolin, Airet, Volmax Bronchodilation No change
Ipratropium Atrovent Bronchodilation No change
Cardiovascular Drugs
Adenosine Adenocard Minute ventilation and heart rate No change
Diltiazem Cardizem, Dilacor XR, Tiazac Acute antihypertensive effect Increased
Enalepril Lexxel Acute antihypertensive effect Increased
Isoproterenol Isuprel Chronotropic effect Decreased
Phenylephrine (Neosynephrine) Acute vasoconstriction Antihypotensive No change
Prazosin Minipress Chronotropic effect Decreased
Timolol Blocadren Chronotropic effect No change
Verapamil Calan, Calan SR, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Covera-HS, Verelan PM Acute antihypertensive effect Increased
Diuretics
Furosemide Lasix Latency and size of peak diuretic response Decreased
Psychotropics
Diazepam Valium Acute sedation Increased
Diphenhydramine Benadryl, Behahist, Diphenhist, Nytol, Phendry, Compoz, Sleep-Eze, Sominex, Unisom Psychomotor function No change
Haloperidol Haldol, Haldol Decanoate, Apo-Haloperidol, Haldol LA, Novo-Peridol, Peridol, PMS Haloperidol Acute sedation Decreased
Midazolam Versed Electroencephalographic activity Increased
Temazepam Restoril Postural sway, psychomotor effect, and sedation Increased
Triazolam Halcion Psychomotor activity Increased
Others
Levodopa Dopar, Larodopa Dose elimination due to side effects Increased
Tolbutamide Orinase, Tol-Tab Acute hypoglycemic effect Decreased

Source: Adapted from Cusack, B.J., and Vestal, R.E. Clinical pharmacology: Special considerations in the elderly. In: Calkins, E.; Dovin, P.J.; and Ford, A.B., eds. Practice of Geriatric Medicine. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1986, pp. 115-136.

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