title: Age and the pharmacokinetics of morphine.
abstract: Eight healthy young and nine healthy elderly volunteers received 10 mg morphine sulphate as an intravenous infusion, an oral solution and a slow-release tablet (MST Continus, Napp Laboratories) on three separate occasions. Pharmacokinetic profiles of morphine base were measured over a 24-h period using 13 sampling times. The elderly group showed decreased morphine clearance with a trend to a smaller volume of distribution. They achieved higher maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) after both oral formulations and had larger areas under the plasma concentration-time curves. The times to reach maximum concentrations were the same in both groups for all formulations.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Baillie
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bateman
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Woodhouse
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine