Pharmacokinetics of cefodizime in elderly patients with moderate or severe renal impairment

In young adults, the elimination half-life of cefodizime is 3.5-4 h. A pharmacokinetic study was performed in eight patients, aged 63 to 85 years, divided into two groups with the following creatinine clearances (group I: greater than or equal to 50 ml/min and group II: less than 30 ml/min). Cefodizime was administered as a 1.0-g iv bolus. In group I, pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ from those observed in young healthy volunteers in a previous study. In group II, the half-life was increased (3.42-7.41 h). There is a linear correlation between the creatinine clearance and total clearance. The daily dose given needs to be based not on the age of the patient but on the degree of renal impairment. In elderly patients with severe renal impairment, the daily dose should be reduced if the creatinine clearance falls below 30 ml/min.