Pharmacokinetics of oral indoramin in elderly and middle-aged female volunteers.

Indoramin was administered as a single 50 mg oral tablet to 5 elderly (aged 68-71 years) and 6 middle-aged (aged 46-55 years) healthy female volunteers. The mean half life of indoramin in elderly subjects (14.7 +/- 4.8 h, mean +/- SEM) was statistically significantly longer than that seen in middle-aged subjects (5.1 +/- 1.0 h). The mean plasma concentrations of indoramin and mean area under the plasma concentration/time curve were also greater in elderly than in middle-aged subjects, although this did not achieve statistical significance. In many elderly patients, therefore, a reduction in dosage may be required due to the apparent reduction in clearance of indoramin. However, because of the wide inter-subject variability observed in the oral pharmacokinetics of indoramin, individual titration of indoramin dosage in all patients may be desirable.