Plasma concentrations of oral oxycodone are greatly increased in the elderly.
We compared the pharmacokinetics of 10 mg oral oxycodone in four groups of 10 patients each, aged 20-40, 60-70, 70-80, and 80-90 years. Patients aged 70-80 and 80-90 years had 50-80% higher mean exposure to oxycodone (P < 0.05) and a twofold higher plasma oxycodone concentration (P < 0.05) than the young adults 12 h after ingestion of the drug. Because oxycodone pharmacokinetics depend to a great extent on the age of the subject, it is important to titrate the analgesic dose individually, particularly in the elderly.
Liukas
A
A
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency Care and Pain Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Kuusniemi
K
K
Aantaa
R
R
Virolainen
P
P
Neuvonen
M
M
Neuvonen
P J
PJ
Olkkola
K T
KT
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010098:Oxycodone