title: [Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of flunarizine in multimorbid, geriatric patients with vertigo].
abstract: Ten multimorbid, geriatric, hospitalised patients, mean age 76 years, were treated for vertigo and received 10 mg flunarizine (CAS 52468-60-7; Sibelium) daily for 3 weeks. The study of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this dosage scheme revealed that the kinetics did not change during the three weeks of therapy. The terminal half-life is 7.3 +/- 3.3 days. Since a steady state concentration is only to be expected after about 5 half-lives, this condition was not fully met yet in most patients after three weeks. The data obtained from the patients examined are essentially identical with those in young and old healthy subjects. The unchanged kinetics during long-term treatment prevent side-effects due to cumulation on the one hand or the decrease of plasma levels to inactive concentrations resulting from enzyme induction. There was not measurable anti-aggregator effect on thrombocytes or erythrocytes. The effectiveness in connection with vertigo seems to be due to a direct labyrinth depressor activity and/or to a selective vasospecific action. No side-effects were observed during the three weeks of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl Innere Medizin-Gerontologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Rolzhäuser
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oestreich
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jorisch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006207:Half-Life; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D014717:Vertigo / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D005444:Flunarizine
vernacular_title: Pharmakokinetik und Pharmakodynamik von Flunarizin bei multimorbiden geriatrischen Patienten mit Schwindel.