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Reduced β‐adrenoceptor sensitivity in the elderly
Author(s) -
Vestal Robert E.,
Wood Alastair J. J.,
Shand David G.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1979262181
Subject(s) - sensitivity (control systems) , medicine , pharmacology , engineering , electronic engineering
The effect of age on sensitivity to both isoproterenol and propranolol has been investigated in 27 male volunteers aged 21 to 73 yr. The dose of isoproterenol (given as a rapid intravenous injection) required to increase the resting heart rate by 25 bpm (I 25 ) increased with age. The I 25 was repeated during an intravenous infusion of propranolol and the dose ratio (I 25 after propranolol divided by the control I 25 ) determined. This was related to the concentration of free propranolol in plasma. It was found that the effectiveness of any given free concentration diminished progressively with age. These data are consistent with a diminished responsiveness of the β‐adrenoceptor to both agonist and antagonist drugs with advancing years.