Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-Letters: Submit a response to the article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (23)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by SINGLETON, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by FISHER, D. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by SINGLETON, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by FISHER, D. M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1988, Vol. 60, No. 6 619-622
© 1988 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

research-article

PHARMACOKINETICS OF FENTANYL IN THE ELDERLY

M. A. SINGLETON, J. I. ROSEN and D. M. FISHER

M. A. SINGLETON, M.D.; J.I.ROSEN, B.A.; D. M. FISHER, M.D.; Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143–0648, U.S.A.

The pharmacokinetics of fentanyl were determined in seven elderly (71–82 yr) and seven younger adults (18–41 yr) anaesthetized with thiopentone, nitrous oxide in oxygen and morphine. Fentanyl was administered as a 2-min i.v. infusion at doses of 15 µg kg–1 for elderly patients and 20 µg kg–1 for the younger patients. Plasma samples were obtained for 4 h and fentanyl concentrations determined by radio-immunoassay. Fentanyl concentration, per µg kg–1 administered, was higher in elderly than in young patients at 2 min (7.73±3.14 v. 4.54 ± 1.83 ng ml–1 (mean±SD), respectively) and at 4 min after the start of infusion (3.26 ± 1.44 v. 1.78 ±0.72 ng ml–1, respectively). Concentrations were similar at all other sampling times. Pharmacokinetic variables were determined by non-compartmental techniques. Total plasma clearance was similar for the two age groups. Volume of distribution at steady-state (VDss) was smaller in elderly patients (1.36 ± 0.44 v. 2.27 ± 0.82 litre kg –1). Despite age-related changes in VDss, plasma fentanyl concentrations for the two groups were similar throughout the 4-h sampling period except immediately following administration. These results suggest that, if there are age-related differences in response to fentanyl, the likely pharmacokinetic explanation is the higher concentration of fentanyl in the elderly immediately following its administration.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 AM J HOSP PALLIAT CAREHome page
L. D. Wrede-Seaman
Treatment options to manage pain at the end of life
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, March 1, 2001; 18(2): 89 - 101.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.