Summary
The pharmacokinetics of sulphamethizole, paracetamol and phenylbutazone were investigated and compared in young and geriatric subjects. The rate and extent of absorption of the drugs did not appear to be affected by increasing subject age. However, the mean half-lives for sulphamethizole and paracetamol were significantly increased in the geriatric subjects. A number of correlations are presented between the elimination rate constants of the drugs and certain subject parameters and variables. The elimination of phenylbutazone was found not to be influenced significantly by subject age. The apparent volumes of distribution of the three drugs were not age-dependent.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Branch, R.A., Herbert, C.M., Read, A.E.: Determinants of serum antipyrine half-lives in patients with liver disease. Gut14, 569–573 (1973)
Bratton, A.C., Marshall, E.K.: A new coupling component for sulphanilamide determination. J. biol. Chem.128, 537–550 (1939)
Burns, J.J., Rose, R.K., Chenkin, T., Goldman, A., Schulert, A., Brodie, B.B.: The physiological disposition of phenylbutazone (Butazolidin) in man and a method for its estimation in biological material. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.109, 346–357 (1953)
Coffey, J.J., Bullock, F.J., Schoenemann, P.T.: Numerical solution of nonlinear pharmacokinetic equations: Effect of plasma protein binding on drug distribution and elimination. J. pharm. Sci.60, 1623–1628 (1971)
Dettli, L., Spring, P., Ryter, S.: Multiple dose kinetics and drug dosage in patients with kidney disease. Acta pharmacol. (Kbh.)29 (suppl. 3), 211–224 (1971)
—— Habersang, R.: Drug dosage in patients with impaired renal function. Postgrad. med. J.46 (suppl.), 32–35 (1970)
Evered, D.C., Chapman, C.: Plasma digoxin concentrations and digoxin toxicity in hospital patients. Brit. Heart J.33, 540–545 (1971)
Ewy, G.A., Marcus, F.I., Kapadia, G.: Digoxin metabolism in the elderly. Clin. Res.16, 27 (1968)
Gibaldi, M., Nagashima, R., Levy, G.: Relationship between drug concentration in plasma or serum and amount of drug in the body. J. pharma. Sci.58, 193–197 (1969)
Gillette, J.R.: Factors affecting drug metabolism. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.179, 43–66 (1971)
Goldstein, A.: Biostatistics: an introductory text. New York: MacMillan 1964
Heirwegh, K.P., Fevery, J.: Determination of unconjugated and total N-acetyl-p-aminophenol in urine and serum. Clin. Chem.13, 215–219 (1967)
Hurwitz, N.: Predisposing factors in adverse reactions to drugs. Brit. med. J.1969 I, 536–539
Jähnchen, E., Levy, G.: Determination of phenylbutazone in plasma. Clin. Chem.18, 984–986 (1972)
Jori, A., Di Salle, E., Quadri, A.: Rate of aminopyrine disappearance from plasma in young and aged humans. Pharmacology8, 273–279 (1972)
Kato, R., Gillette, J.R.: Effect of starvation on NADPH-dependent enzymes in liver microsomes of male and female rats. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.150, 279–284 (1965)
Mawer, G.E., Miller, N.E., Turnberg, L.A.: Metabolism of amylobarbitone in patients with chronic liver disease. Brit. J. Pharmacol.44, 549–560 (1972)
Mølholm Hansen, J., Kampmann, J., Laursen, H.: Renal excretion of drugs in the elderly. Lancet1970 I, 1170
Ogilvie, R.I., Ruedy, J.: An educational program in digitalis therapy. J. Amer. med. Ass.222, 50–55 (1972)
O'Malley, K., Crooks, J., Duke, E., Stevenson, I.H.: Effect of age and sex on human drug metabolism. Brit. med. J.1971 III, 607–609
Perrier, D., Gibaldi, M.: Serum creatinine and drug half-lives in renal failure. J. Amer. med. Ass.221, 918 (1972)
Portmann, G.A.: Current concepts in the pharmaceutical sciences: biopharmaceutics. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger 1970
Simon, C., Malerczyk, V., Müller, U., Müller, G.: Pharmacokinetics of propicillin in geriatric patients in comparison with younger adults. Dtsch. med. Wschr.97, 1999–2003 (1972)
Wagner, J.G., Northam, J.I., Alway, C.D., Carpenter, O.S.: Blood levels of drug at the equilibrium state after multiple dosing. Nature207, 1301–1302 (1965)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Triggs, E.J., Nation, R.L., Long, A. et al. Pharmacokinetics in the elderly. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 8, 55–62 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00616415
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00616415