title: Pharmacokinetics and effect on the corrected QT interval of single-dose escitalopram in healthy elderly compared with younger adults.
abstract: Escitalopram is the (S)-enantiomer of citalopram that has a potential QT prolonging effect. In this study, 12 healthy elderly individuals received a single oral dose of escitalopram (20 mg), and their pharmacokinetics and QT effect data were compared with data from 33 younger adults obtained in a previous study. Serial blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected and ECG was performed up to 48 h postdose. The elderly and younger adults showed similar pharmacokinetic profiles. The geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) of the elderly compared with the younger adults were 1.02 (0.89-1.17) and 1.01 (0.86-1.17) for the maximum plasma concentration and area under the concentration-time curve, respectively. The mean baseline-adjusted QT (dQT) time profiles were similar and the mean values of maximum dQT were not significantly different between the elderly and the younger adults. The linear mixed-effect model indicated a weak but positive relationship between the escitalopram concentration and dQT, with an estimated coefficient of concentration of 0.43-0.54. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetics and QT effect of a single dose of escitalopram observed in the elderly without comorbidities and younger adults were generally similar.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul bDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, CHA University School of Medicine and CHA Bundang Medical Center cDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyewon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Anhye
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sang-In
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung-Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Seo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Joo-Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jae-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors