Pharmacokinetic studies on atropine with special reference to age.

Pharmacokinetic studies on atropine were performed in 52 patients under general or spinal anaesthesia. Age had a clinically significant effect on the kinetics of this alkaloid: in children under 2 years of age and in the elderly a prolonged elimination was found. This might explain, partly at least, the higher sensitivity of these age groups to the effects of atropine. Age had no effect on the serum protein binding of this alkaloid. Atropine was found in human CSF after a single i.m. administration, but not after a single i.v. administration. During anaesthesia after i.v. atropine administration, a diminished cardiovascular response was found in the elderly in comparison with healthy adult patients. This indicates changes also at the cholinergic receptor sites in the elderly.