Etodolac kinetics in the elderly.

The effects of age and chronic dosing on the pharmacokinetics of the anti-inflammatory drug etodolac were evaluated in healthy young subjects, healthy elderly subjects, and elderly patients with osteoarthritis. After either single or chronic (7 days) dosing, both the healthy elderly subjects and the elderly patients with osteoarthritis had values for etodolac peak concentration, time to reach peak concentration, the AUC from 0 to 24 hours, elimination t1/2, and free fraction that did not differ significantly from those in the young (control) subjects. Despite the expected increases in the peak concentration and AUC from 0 to 24 hours for all groups after chronic dosing, there were no changes in etodolac free fraction, time to peak concentration, or t1/2. Because significant accumulation of etodolac was not observed in our elderly participants, adjustment of dosage when elderly subjects receive etodolac therapy is not indicated.