[Pharmacokinetics of sulindac in aged patients presenting with inflammatory joint disease]

The kinetic of sulindac and its two metabolites (sulfide and sulfone) was investigated in twelve elderly patients, following multiple oral dose administration of 400 mg/d. Data were compared to those obtained previously in ten healthy volunteers who received the same dosage regimen. Following multiple dose administration, accumulation ratios indicate that sulindac do not accumulate either in elderly patients (R = 1.35; R = AUC0-24 J8/AUC0-24 J1) or in healthy young subjects (R = 1.38; R = U0-24 J1). No significant modification of sulindac and sulfide kinetic parameters was observed. The apparent bioavailability of the inactive metabolite, sulfone, was found to be doubled in elderly patients (p less than 0.05). We conclude that there is no need to modify the dosage regimen of Arthrocine (400 mg once a day) in elderly patients.