The effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of enoxacin.

We have studied the pharmacokinetics of enoxacin in two groups of subjects, 10 young (18-45 years) and 10 elderly adults (greater than 65 years) after a single oral dose of enoxacin (600 mg). Enoxacin was absorbed rapidly, peak plasma concentrations being reached within two hours in both groups. However, the peak plasma concentration of enoxacin was significantly higher in the elderly than in the young adults. The area under the concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity was also significantly greater in the elderly compared with the young subjects, and the apparent renal clearance was significantly less in the elderly than in the young adults. Consequently, the urinary elimination of unchanged enoxacin was significantly reduced in the elderly. The apparent volume of distribution in the elderly was significantly less than in the young adults. The elimination half-time of enoxacin was similar in the two groups.