Single Dose and Steady-State Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Nifedipine GITS Tablets in Healthy Elderly and Young Volunteers

The pharmacokinetics of a once-daily extended-release nifedipine formulation [Gastro-Intestinal Therapeutic System (GITS)] was studied in 23 young males and 24 elderly male and female volunteers, after single and multiple dosing of 60mg nifedipine GITS tablets once daily for 7 days, in an open nonrandomised study. Serial blood samples for plasma nifedipine levels were drawn on days 1 and 7, and the pharmacokinetic profiles of the elderly and young volunteers were compared after both single and multiple dosing. After a single dose the plasma nifedipine concentrations in the young and elderly were similar, but at steady-state after multiple dosing the plasma concentrations were slightly higher in the elderly than in the young volunteers. Nifedipine GITS displayed distinct extended-release properties, and it appears that dose reduction will not be required for otherwise healthy elderly subjects. © 1993, Adis International Limited. All rights reserved.