Absorption and disposition of moclobemide in patients with advanced age or reduced liver or kidney function

Three different studies were conducted to assess the pharmacokinetics of moclobemide in subjects with conditions complicating dose determination. The first examined the absorption and disposition of moclobemide in an elderly population and compared these with results obtained in a group of normal young subjects. No significant differences were found between the groups in the intravenous (i.v.) parameters of disposition, and no differences with regard to disposition of the metabolite, Ro 12-8095. In addition, the minimum steady-state concentrations of moclobemide and the main plasma metabolite did not differ between the elderly and younger patients. In the second study, clearance tests in patients with cirrhosis of the liver confirmed that hepatic function is drastically reduced in this group of patients; it is therefore possible that moclobemide absorption and distribution might be influenced. In only 3 of the 12 patients investigated, slowly declining plasma concentrations after administration pointed to a severely limited elimination capacity for moclobemide. In the remaining 9 subjects, average values of several parameters changed significantly (t 1/2 beta, MRT and C1), whereas Vss and renal clearance were not significantly altered. In patients with kidney dysfunction, there were no differences in kinetics between patients undergoing hemodialysis and those who were not. Compared with normal healthy volunteers, no differences were found for renal patients, with the exception of the mean absorption time, which was significantly prolonged. From these studies it can be concluded that, pharmacokinetically, neither age nor renal impairment require adjusting the dosage of moclobemide. Patients with liver cirrhosis, however, need to have the usual dose reduced to one half or one third, or else the dosage intervals can be increased to prevent cumulation.