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Amitriptyline disposition in young and elderly normal men
Author(s) -
Schulz Pierre,
TurnerTamiyasu Kathleen,
Smith Gabrielle,
Giacomini Kathleen M,
Blaschke Terrence F
Publication year - 1983
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 - 10.1038/clpt.1983.46
Subject(s) - amitriptyline , volume of distribution , clinical pharmacology , bioavailability , medicine , disposition , pharmacokinetics , regimen , therapeutic index , anesthesia , drug , pharmacology , psychology , social psychology
The disposition of a single parenteral or single oral dose of amitriptyline was followed in seven young (mean age 22 yr, range 21 to 23) and five elderly (mean age 71 yr, range 62 to 81) healthy men. The mean systemic clearance did not change with age (10.8 ± 2.1 ml/min/kg in elderly and 12.5 ± 2.3 ml/min/kg in young subjects). Mean t½ was longer in the older (21.7 ± 2.9 hr) than in the younger group (16.2 ±6.1 hr) as a result of an increase in the volume of distribution (17.1 ± 2.4 and 14.1 ± 2.0 l/kg). The bioavailability and the fraction of the drug bound to plasma proteins did not change with age. Single doses of amitriptyline were not well tolerated clinically by either elderly or young subjects, which confirms the need for a gradual buildup in the therapeutic regimen and for close clinical surveillance of elderly depressed patients treated with amitriptyline. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1983) 33, 360–366; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1983.46