Plasma profiles of two differing doses of fenoprofen in geriatric patients

Plasma levels after single doses of 300 mg and 600 mg fenoprofen were measured in 10 elderly patients with osteoarthritis. Mean peak concentrations occurred at 4 hours. For the 300 mg dose, this was similar to levels obtained in an earlier study with young volunteers but the drug was absorbed more slowly in the elderly, peak levels being achieved approximately 2 hours later. There was no significant difference in the area under the plasma concentration-time curves compared with previous studies, and plasma levels after multiple doses showed no evidence of drug accumulation. Haematological and biochemical values were within acceptable limits for this patient population. It is concluded that fenoprofen is reliably but more slowly absorbed in the elderly, and that normal dosages can be utilized.