Bioavailability of metoprolol in young adults and the elderly, with additional studies on the effects of metoclopramide and probanthine.

The bioavailability of metoprolol was studied in eight healthy young and seven healthy elderly volunteers. Large interindividual differences in the bioavailability of metoprolol were observed in both groups. However, there was no significant difference in AUC, peak plasma concentration or elimination half-life between young and elderly, but time to peak concentration was significantly longer in the elderly. Pretreatment with metoclopramide had no effect on AUC but caused significant increases in peak concentration and decreases in time to peak concentration in both groups. Probanthine pretreatment (only to the young) resulted in a significant decrease in peak concentration of metoprolol and a significant increase in time to peak concentration but had no effect on the AUC. These results suggest that alterations in gastric emptying and gut motility due to ageing or other drugs have no effect on the overall availability of metoprolol to the systemic circulation but may have significant effects on the time to peak plasma concentration and peak concentration achieved after a single oral dose.