An assessment of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single doses of amlodipine in elderly normotensives

• Published in: Pharmacological research Vol. 26; no. 1; p. 33
• Main Authors: Elliott, H L, Green, S T, Vincent, J, Meredith, P A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.07.1992
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amlodipine; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Calcium Channel Blockers - pharmacokinetics; Calcium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Drug Tolerance; Female; Heart Rate - drug effects; Humans; Male; Nifedipine - analogs & derivatives; Nifedipine - pharmacokinetics; Nifedipine - pharmacology; Placebos; Reference Values
• ISSN: 1043-6618; 1096-1186
• DOI: 10.1016/1043-6618(92)90703-E

This study characterizes the single dose pharmacokinetic characteristics of the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist drug amlodipine in a group of 16 elderly subjects, aged 65 to 86 years (8 M:8 F). The most notable pharmacokinetic features were a prolonged terminal elimination half life of 48 +/- 16 hours and a delayed tmax of 7.3 +/- 1.3 hours. Consistent with the time to achieve peak plasma drug concentrations, there was a modest but significant reduction in blood pressure at 6-8 hours after dosing. Comparison of these results with those of published data for young subjects indicate not only a greater degree of intersubject variability but also a longer half life in the elderly, suggestive of reduced drug clearance, which may lead to higher plasma drug concentrations particularly at steady state.