Pharmacokinetics of remoxipride in elderly psychotic patients

The pharmacokinetics of remoxipride when given as single doses of 50 mg and repeated doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg twice daily to 10 elderly psychotic patients (71-89 years) were compared with the findings of two other studies to reveal any age-related differences. The three studies comprised a total of 38 patients in three distinct age groups: elderly (71-89 years), middle-aged (46-69 years) and young (19-36 years). AUC, Cmax and Cmin of both total and unbound remoxipride increased with increasing age. The unbound fraction was similar in the three age groups. The half-life was prolonged in the elderly, most probably caused by a decrease in intrinsic clearance. A two-fold increase in AUC of both total and unbound concentrations was observed in the elderly group compared to the young, suggesting that patients over 70 years in general require half the dose needed by young adult patients. In general, the pharmacokinetics of remoxipride in the elderly are linear.