Pharmacokinetics of oral ciprofloxacin, 100 mg single dose, in volunteers and elderly patients

Abstract

The pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin following a single 100 mg oral dose were evaluated in elderly patients (mean age 74 years), laboratory staff (30–40 years) and students (max (1.2–1.3 h) or in overall serum elimination half-life (3.7–4.0 h) but C_max in elderly patients was more than double that in young volunteers (PPP<0.005). Urinary recoveries were greater in fasting subjects and in all categories of volunteers compared with elderly patients. However, in the elderly, urinary ciprofloxacin concentrations (0–6 h mean 66 mg/l: range 17.4–200 mg/l) were more than adequate for the eradication of urinary pathogens.