AN OVERVIEW OF THE PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS OF AMLODIPINE IN ELDERLY PERSONS WITH SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data were compared between elderly and young patients with hypertension who received single intravenous doses of amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, followed by oral administration of amlodipine up to 10 mg once daily for 12 weeks . After intravenous administration, elderly patients had prolonged eli mination half-life values (58 +/- 11 vs 42 +/- 8 hr; p < 0.05) caused by decreased clearance (19 +/- 5 vs 7 liters/hr; p < 0.05). Systolic a nd diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased front baseli ne throughout the 3-month treatment period in both groups. After long- term oral administration, elderly and young patients had comparable de creases in mean blood pressure at a given drug plasma concentration. T he antihypertensive effect of amlodipine is well correlated with plasm a concentration and, at a given concentration, is similar in both elde rly and young patients.