The Effect of Age on the Pharmacokinetics of Diazepam

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
After i.v. administration to 19 human subjects, aged 18-95 yr, plasma diazepam concentrations were measured over 160 h. Plasma protein binding of diazepam was measured in each subject. The terminal plasma half-life of diazepam ranged from 15.0-125 h and was positively correlated with age (r = 0.797). Total plasma diazepam clearance was not correlated with age (r = -0.017). The free fraction of diazepam ranged from 0.0137-0.0386 and was significantly correlated with age (r = +0.863). Free diazepam clearance, which ranged from 432-1870 ml/min, was also correlated with age (r = -0.717). The increased sensitivity of the elderly to diazepam is, at least in part, due to pharmacokinetic factors.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: