Effects of age on the clinical pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen

The pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen (Motrin) were studied in 17 normal elderly men and women aged 65 to 78 years. Total and free unbound plasma concentrations of ibuprofen were determined 12 hours after single oral doses of 400, 800, and 1,200 mg. These results were then compared with those of a similar study involving 15 normal young men 22 to 35 years old. The two age groups showed no statistically significant differences in any pharmacokinetic parameter studied. Therefore, according to this study, advanced age has only minimal influence on the pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen, and dosage apparently does not need to be adjusted for age.