Hydergine pharmacokinetics in the elderly.

The pharmacokinetics of Hydergine was studied following intramuscular administration in a group of 6 subjects aged 76-86 and following oral administration in 6 subjects aged 66-86. Comparison with a control group of healthy volunteers (average age of 25) showed: --a marked reduction (- 50%) in renal clearance (p less than 0.001), related to the decrease in creatinine clearance in this population; --a lowering (- 30%) in metabolic clearance (p less than 0.02) in elderly subjects probably related to the decrease in hepatic blood flow observed with age; --a marked increase in bioavailability (X 2.5) following oral administration in elderly subjects, due either to increased absorption, or to a decreased hepatic first-pass effect. These results underline the value of studying the kinetics of geriatric drugs in the target population.