Pharmacokinetics of diuretics in geriatric patients

Pharmacokinetics of three diuretics (furosemide, spironolactone, and triamterene) were investigated in 70 geriatric patients. Comparing the data with the corresponding values of young healthy volunteers, mean plasma concentrations of furosemide and spironolactone (and peak concentrations of triamterene) were markedly higher in the geriatric patients. Different concomitant diuretic therapy (hydrochlorothiazide vs. piretanide) seems to influence the kinetic parameters of triamterene and its active metabolite in the geriatric patients. In elderly patients reduction or correction of the dosage seems to be necessary for all three diuretics investigated in our studies.