Why might geriatric patients require different dosing strategies for medications?

Geriatric patients often experience physiological changes that can significantly impact how medications are processed in the body. One of the primary factors is the alteration in metabolic rate, which can include changes in hepatic and renal function. With age, there may be a decline in liver size and blood flow, affecting the metabolism of drugs that are primarily processed by the liver. Similarly, renal function often decreases, impacting the clearance of medications that are excreted through the kidneys.

These changes necessitate careful consideration of dosing strategies since standard dosing may not be appropriate for older adults. It is critical to adjust doses based on these physiological changes to avoid adverse effects from overdosing or reduced efficacy from underdosing. Consequently, medical professionals must take the individual patient's health status, organ function, and overall metabolic rate into account when determining the proper medication dosage for geriatric patients.