Pharmacokinetic studies on atropine with special reference to age

Pharmacokinetic studies on atropine were performed in 52 patients under general or spinal anaesthesia. Age had a clinically significant effect on the kinetics of this alkaloid: in children under 2 years of age and in the elderly a prolonged elimination was found. This might explain, partly at least,...

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Published inActa anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Vol. 26; no. 4; p. 297
Main Authors Virtanen, R, Kanto, J, Iisalo, E, Iisalo, E U, Salo, M, Sjövall, S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.08.1982
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aging
Atropine - metabolism
Atropine - pharmacology
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Half-Life
Hemodynamics - drug effects
Humans
Infant
Injections, Intravenous
Kinetics
Male
Middle Aged
Time Factors
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Summary:Pharmacokinetic studies on atropine were performed in 52 patients under general or spinal anaesthesia. Age had a clinically significant effect on the kinetics of this alkaloid: in children under 2 years of age and in the elderly a prolonged elimination was found. This might explain, partly at least, the higher sensitivity of these age groups to the effects of atropine. Age had no effect on the serum protein binding of this alkaloid. Atropine was found in human CSF after a single i.m. administration, but not after a single i.v. administration. During anaesthesia after i.v. atropine administration, a diminished cardiovascular response was found in the elderly in comparison with healthy adult patients. This indicates changes also at the cholinergic receptor sites in the elderly.
ISSN:0001-5172
DOI:10.1111/j.1399-6576.1982.tb01770.x