How is medication clearance affected by age?

As people age, several physiological changes occur that can significantly impact medication clearance, primarily due to alterations in renal and hepatic function. In particular, kidney function tends to decline with age, which affects how effectively medications are excreted from the body. This decline means that the clearance of many medications decreases, resulting in longer half-lives and potential accumulation of drugs in the system if dosages are not appropriately adjusted.

The aging process can lead to changes such as decreased renal blood flow, reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and alterations in tubular secretion and reabsorption. These factors contribute to the diminished ability to eliminate medications, making it crucial for healthcare providers to consider age when prescribing and dosing medications for older patients.

Overall, understanding that medication clearance diminishes with age is essential for safe and effective pharmacotherapy, particularly in elderly populations who may be more susceptible to adverse drug reactions due to this decreased clearance capacity.