The pharmacokinetics of enoxacin in elderly patients

Twenty-three patients of greater than 70 years of age, with proven urinary tract infections were treated with 200 mg of enoxacin twice daily. Serial blood samples were taken on day 1 and peak and trough levels on days 3 and 5. Enoxacin and oxo-enoxacin plasma levels were measured. The mean plasma half-lives of enoxacin and the oxo-metabolite were 6.1 h and 6.7 h respectively. The 2 h plasma level of enoxacin increased from a mean of 1.5 mg/l on day 1 to 2.65 mg/l on day 3 and 2.80 mg/l on day 5. No significant accumulation of the oxo-metabolite (as judged by the 2 h level) occurred. No alteration in enoxacin dosing in the elderly compared with that in younger patients is suggested. Eighty-five per cent of the patients were cured of their infection and no significant adverse advents were noted.