Effect of age and gender on the pharmacokinetics of eprosartan

Aims To compare the pharmacokinetics of eprosartan between young (18–45 years) and elderly (65 years) men and between young men and young, premenopausal women (18–45 years). Methods Twenty-four subjects (eight subjects/group) received a single 200 mg eprosartan oral dose followed by serial blood sampling over 24 h. Results Eprosartan was safe and well tolerated. There were no apparent differences in the pharmacokinetics of eprosartan between young females and young males or in the plasma protein binding of eprosartan (≈98%) for the three groups. On average, AUC (0,∞) and Cmax values were ≈2-fold higher in elderly men than young men [AUC (0,∞) 95% CI: 1.22, 4.34; Cmax 95% CI: 0.98, 4.00]. Similarly, unbound AUC (0,∞) and Cmax values were, on average, ≈2-fold higher in elderly men than young men [unbound AUC (0,∞) 95% CI: 1.29, 4.44; unbound Cmax 95% CI: 1.02, 4.12]. tmax was delayed in the elderly men compared with young men, with a median difference of 2.5 h (95% CI: 1.00, 3.01 h). Conclusions No gender differences were observed in the pharmacokinetics of eprosartan. There were ≈ two fold higher AUC and Cmax values for eprosartan observed in elderly men as compared with young men, most likely due to increased bioavailability of eprosartan in the elderly. Based on the excellent safety profile in the elderly in Phase III clinical trials (doses up to 1200 mg eprosartan) eprosartan can be safely administered to elderly hypertensive patients without an initial dose adjustment. Subsequently, the dose of eprosartan, as for other antihypertensive agents, may be individualized based on tolerability/response.