EFFECT OF AGE ON THE PHARMACOKINETICS AND SEDATIVE EFFECT OF FLUNITRAZEPAM

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 19  (9) , 400-404
Abstract
Flunitrazepam (0.015 mg/kg) was injected i.v. into 20 patients, 19-79 yr old, as a sedative agent prior to epidural anesthesia. The concentrations of unchanged flunitrazepam in sera were determined by 63Ni-EC[electron capture]-GLC, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the 2-compartment open model. Age had no effect on the kinetics of flunitrazepam, buts its sedative effect was clearly increased in the group over 60. No correlation between the serum level or elimination half-life and sedation was found. Flunitrazepam''s strong and rapid sedative effect renders it a useful adjuvant in connection with epidural anesthesia.