title: Effect of age and gender on citalopram and desmethylcitalopram steady-state plasma concentrations in adults and elderly depressed patients.
abstract: The effect of aging on steady-state plasma concentrations of citalopram (CIT) and desmethylcitalopram (DCIT) was investigated in 128 depressive patients treated with 10-80 mg/day CIT. They were separated into three groups, with age up to 64 years (mean age+/-S.D.: 47+/-12 years; n=48), between 65 and 79 years (72+/-1 years; n=57), and from 80 years or older (84+/-1 years; n=23). Body mass index (BMI), renal and hepatic functions were similar in the three groups. A large interindividual variability of plasma levels of CIT (16-fold) and DCIT (12-fold) was measured for a given dose. The mean plasma levels of CIT corrected for a 20 mg daily dose were 55% higher in the very elderly (>=80 years) patients (65+/-30 ng/ml; p<0.001) and 38% higher in the elderly (65-79 years) patients (58+/-24 ng/ml; p<0.001) when compared to the adult patients (42+/-17 ng/ml). DCIT mean plasma level was 38% higher (p<0.05) in the group of very elderly patients (22+/-10 ng/ml) when compared to the adult patients (16+/-9 ng/ml). As a consequence, the mean plasma concentration of CIT+DCIT was 48% higher in the very elderly patients (86+/-36 ng/ml; p<0.001) and 33% higher in the elderly patients (77+/-28 ng/ml; p<0.001) when compared to the adult patients (58+/-21 ng/ml). Age correlated significantly with CIT (r=0.43, p<0.001), DCIT (r=0.28, p<0.01), and CIT+DCIT plasma levels (r=0.44, p<0.001), and thus accounts for 18% of the variability of CIT plasma levels, with no influence of gender. The recommended dose reduction of CIT in elderly patients seems therefore justified.
authors: Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Carlos A
authors: CA
authors: de Mendonça Lima
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Baumann
authors: Marlyse
authors: M
authors: Brawand-Amey
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Brogli
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Jacquet
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Cochard
authors: Kerry
authors: K
authors: Powell-Golay
authors: Chin B
authors: CB
authors: Eap
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015283:Citalopram; C046303:cyan-desipramine; D007099:Imipramine