Drug eruptions and other adverse drug effects in aged skin.

The elderly are at higher risk for suffering the annoying and hazardous skin reactions that are associated with drug therapy. If a serious reaction occurs, the aged are also at higher risk for major morbidity and mortality compared with younger individuals. Early consideration of a drug cause and prompt cessation of all potentially associated drugs may improve a patient's outcome. Thus, a prompt, careful, and accurate characterization of a drug-related reaction is important in optimizing patient care, along with close monitoring for associated internal toxicities and other medical complications of severe cutaneous reactions.