Pharmacokinetics of gliquidone, glibenclamide, gliclazide and glipizide inmiddle-aged and aged subjects

Six middle-aged (42 - 59 years old) and six aged (71-75 years old) subjects received each, on separate days, an oral administration of gliquidone (30 mg), glibenclamide (5 mg), gliclazide (80 mg) and glipizide (5 mg). The pla sma concentration of the drugs was measured before and at eight times (60 m in to 24 h) thereafter. The half-life of gliclazide was higher than that of the other three hypoglycemic agents in middle-aged subjects and was the so le to be significantly increased in aged subjects. There is no obvious diff erence between sulfonylureas eliminated mainly by either the kidney (gliben clamide, gliclazide, glipizide) or the liver (gliquidone) in terms of the i nfluence of aging upon their clearance.