title: Hydergine pharmacokinetics in the elderly.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of Hydergine was studied following intramuscular administration in a group of 6 subjects aged 76-86 and following oral administration in 6 subjects aged 66-86. Comparison with a control group of healthy volunteers (average age of 25) showed: --a marked reduction (- 50%) in renal clearance (p less than 0.001), related to the decrease in creatinine clearance in this population; --a lowering (- 30%) in metabolic clearance (p less than 0.02) in elderly subjects probably related to the decrease in hepatic blood flow observed with age; --a marked increase in bioavailability (X 2.5) following oral administration in elderly subjects, due either to increased absorption, or to a decreased hepatic first-pass effect. These results underline the value of studying the kinetics of geriatric drugs in the target population.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004088:Dihydroergotoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007700:Kinetics; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004088:Dihydroergotoxine