What is true regarding an older patient on medication?

The assertion that medications in older patients might not last as long due to less lipid solubility is not accurate, as it can misrepresent how aging affects drug pharmacokinetics. Generally, older adults may experience altered absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of medications.

In older patients, changes in body composition, such as increased body fat and decreased lean body mass and total body water, can influence the distribution of hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. While it's true that certain drugs may have altered longevity in the system, it's essential to consider that lipid solubility may actually increase the half-life of some medications due to greater accumulation in body fat. Therefore, the impacts of aging can lead to complex interactions that alter how long drugs remain effective in an older adult's system, often resulting in prolonged effects rather than shortened durations.

Understanding these factors helps in tailoring medication regimens for older patients, recognizing the need for adjustments based on their unique physiological changes rather than assuming they are unaffected or that all drug action is predictably shortened.