Linked Life Data

8941039

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/8941039

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1996-12-24
pubmed:abstractText
Epilepsy in elderly patients is a growing worldwide challenge; as the population ages, the prevalence of epilepsy increases. Management of epilepsy in elderly patients requires an understanding of their unique medical and pharmacologic characteristics. Accurate assessment of seizures, thorough neurologic assessment to define etiology, and evaluation of concomitant illnesses and living situations are necessary for comprehensive treatment planning and informed management. Expect elderly patients to present challenges to treatment that include concomitant diseases, obligatory polypharmacy with accompanying drug interactions, and age-related changes in renal and hepatic physiology that alter drug metabolism and elimination. Elderly patients have declining intellectual function, motor impairment, or altered special sensory function that make them susceptible to dose-related CNS side effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). When AEDs are added to the medical regimen of an elderly patient, the physician must review all prescribed drugs. Drugs prescribed for concomitant illnesses such as behavioral problems, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and infection may alter the distribution and metabolism of AEDs, with an impact on efficacy and occurrence of adverse effects. AEDs tend to induce metabolism of other drugs, leading to a decline in target response. Optimal care of elderly patients with epilepsy includes use of free levels to monitor AED concentrations, careful dose selection, and physician sensitivity to patients' social problems.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0013-9580
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
37 Suppl 6
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
S23-33
pubmed:dateRevised
2005-11-16
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Management of epilepsy in the elderly.
pubmed:affiliation
Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review