Medication pain management in the elderly: unique and underutilized analgesic treatment options.

Background: By 2030, the US population of adults aged ≥65 years will increase by >80%, and these adults will account for nearly 20% of the US population. In this population, the decline of multiple physiologic processes and diseases collectively influence treatment options. Physiologic changes, drug-drug interactions resulting from polypharmacy, and drug-disease interactions combine to make elderly patients more sensitive to the adverse events (AEs) associated with medications, all of which must be considered in drug selection.