The effect of ageing on drug absorption from the gut.

Single oral doses of aspirin and practolol were given to young and old subjects. The results of the plasma concentration-time curves were subjected to pharmacokinetic appraisal. There was no difference with either drug between the two age-groups in the mean absorption rate constant and the time at which maximum concentration in the plasma occurred. However, the amount of drug in the plasma of the elderly group was the same or higher than that in the younger group. It is concluded that ageing has no significant effect on the rate or amount of these drugs absorbed.