Effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of duloxetine in women.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of age on duloxetine pharmacokinetics was evaluated in healthy volunteers and in patients with urinary incontinence.


METHODS
Twenty-four healthy subjects (12 women 65-77 years, and 12 women 32-50 years) were given a single 40-mg oral dose of duloxetine in Study 1. Plasma concentration-time data were analysed by noncompartmental pharmacokinetic methods. Sparse plasma samples were obtained from patients with urinary incontinence treated in two phase II studies: 70 women (24-77 years) who received duloxetine 20 mg day(-1), 30 mg day(-1), or 40 mg day(-1) in Study 2A and 128 women (28-64 years) who received duloxetine 20 mg day(-1), 40 mg day(-1), or 80 mg day(-1) in Study 2B. Based upon the combined data, a model was developed to characterize population pharmacokinetics of duloxetine using the nonlinear mixed-effects modelling program (NONMEM).


RESULTS
In Study 1, the elderly (> or = 65 years) exhibited a statistically significant slower elimination rate constant lambdaz compared with younger subjects [elderly-younger difference = -0.022 h(-1)[95% confidence interval (CI) -0.036, -0.008]]. However, no statistically significant differences in either CL/F [elderly-younger difference = -17.4 l h(-1) (95% CI -41.1, 6.23)] or V/F [elderly-younger difference = 115.9 l (95% CI -168.6, 400.4)] were observed. The population pharmacokinetic analysis of Studies 2A and 2B revealed that the CL/F of duloxetine decreased with increasing age. Despite statistical significance, the age effect only accounted for 3% of the interindividual variability in CL/F and unexplained sources of the variation in clearance were still substantial (> 50%). Adverse events were generally mild to moderate, and the incidence of adverse events was generally similar in elderly and non-elderly participants in these studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas the results suggest that age has an effect on duloxetine pharmacokinetics, primarily reflected as a slower lambdaz in the elderly, the magnitude of mean changes in CL/F, or V/F was small relative to the large interindividual variation in pharmacokinetics. Elderly participants had a safety profile of duloxetine comparable to their younger counterparts. Specific dose recommendations for duloxetine in the elderly are not warranted.
Skinner
Michael H
MH
Lilly Laboratory for Clinical Research, Indiana University Hospital and Outpatient Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
Kuan
Han-Yi
HY
Skerjanec
Andrej
A
Seger
Mary E
ME
Heathman
Michael
M
O'Brien
Lisa
L
Reddy
Shobha
S
Knadler
Mary P
MP
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes