Geriatrics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Geriatrics, including details on old age, psychiatry, depression, medicine.

Pharmacological treatment of geriatric cachexia: evidence and safety in perspective.

Yeh SS, Lovitt S, Schuster MW

Northport VAMC, Geriatric division, Northport, NY 11768, USA. shingshing.yeh@med.va.gov

Anticachexic or antisarcopenic medications are prescribed worldwide for geriatric patients with poor appetite and associated weight loss. They represent a valuable treatment option for managing cachexia. However, the well-publicized adverse reports about these medications in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and in the cancer population has led to some concern and much subsequent discussion over the safety of these medications being used in geriatric population. This review looks at the evidence in relation to the benefits and risks of these medications and discusses what we know about their use in the geriatric population.

Published 9 July 2007 in J Am Med Dir Assoc, 8(6): 363-77.
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