Clinical Problems in Treating the Aged With Psychotropic Drugs

The High Rate of Psychiatric Disorders in Elderly Cardiac Patients

“…One drug that probably should be avoided is thioridazine (Mellaril) because it has been shown to have the highest level of cardiotoxic and arrhythmia qualities .41 Drug-induced Parkinsonian syndromes can be treated when they occur, but prophylactic use of drugs like benztropine (Cogentin) is not warranted because of the potential dangers43 of an anticholinergic delerium due to the combined anticholinergic effects of the psychotropic and anti-Parkinsonian drugs. 44 Antidepressant drugs have also been shown to be effective in elderly patients who meet the Feighner criteria&dquo; for affective disorder. In exposing patients to any medication it is important to use adequate dosesan average of 150 mg/day for the average patient.…”

Choreoathetosis as Toxic Effect of Lithium Treatment

“…Possible risk factors which increased lith ium toxicity are old age [9], combined treat ment with other drugs, high dosage of lith ium and previous damage to the central ner vous system. Lithium clearance tends to decrease with age and is correlated with cre atinine clearance [13], The half-life of lith ium in younger patients is usually 18-30 h, whereas in the elderly it may increase to 36 h [22].…”