Responsiveness to Drugs at Extremes of Age. In: Turner P, Padgham C, Hedges A, editors. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK; 1980. pp. 124-31. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-05952-2_12]

Toxicity testing in relation to aging

Clinical evaluation of drugs is usually carried out in young adult subjects or patients and the data obtained is extrapolated to other drug users, e.g., the very old. Similarly, preclinical toxicity testing is invariably done in young animals. However, the main brunt of adverse drug reactions is borne by the elderly age group. Also many determinants of drug response - pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are different in the elderly. It is important to evaluate drug response both wanted and unwanted with this population in mind. Thus, it is appropriate that clinical effects be assessed in elderly populations if the drug is intended for use in this group.