A PHARMACOKINETIC EVALUATION OF PRAVASTATIN IN MIDDLE-AGED AND ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS

The pharmacokinetics of pravastatin, a serum-cholesterol-lowering drug , were studied in 20 middle-aged (46-59 years old, n = 8) and elderly subjects (60-81 years old, n = 12). Pravastatin serum levels were dete rmined by HPLC and solid phase extraction. C-max was 48.9 +/- 7.1 ng/m l (mean +/- SEM, n = 20), and the mean AUC(0-4.5h) was 104.4 ng.h/ml ( n = 5) for a 20 mg daily oral dose. A great interindividual variabilit y was found for C-max, which varied from 6.2 ng/ml to 117.8 ng/ml on t he 20 mg dose. As could be expected, C-max and AUC(0-4.5h) were dose-r elated, but T-max and t(1/2) were not. In six cases, the elimination o f the drug in serum could be described by a single phase but in four c ases with two phases. No significant difference was found in C-max bet ween the middle-aged and the elderly or between males and females.