The influence of age on the pharmacokinetics of verapamil.

The influence of age on the pharmacokinetics of verapamil at steady state has been studied in 74 individuals, age range 19-79 years, including healthy normotensive volunteers and patients with essential hypertension. The peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of verapamil were significantly higher in older subjects (r = 0.24; P = 0.03) and there was a non-significant age-related decrease in clearance/F and a non-significant increase in elimination half-life. These results suggest that increasing age is associated with changes in the pharmacokinetics of verapamil but these changes are small and unlikely to be of clinical significance.