Key result
A single 20 mg dose of escitalopram showed similar pharmacokinetic profiles and QT effects in healthy elderly individuals compared with younger adults (Cmax geometric mean ratio 1.02; 90% CI 0.89-1.17).
Why the study?
Does a single oral dose of escitalopram 20 mg have different pharmacokinetics and QT prolonging effects in healthy elderly compared to younger adults?
Observational (n=45)
Does a single oral dose of escitalopram 20 mg have different pharmacokinetics and QT prolonging effects in healthy elderly compared to younger adults?
A single 20 mg dose of escitalopram demonstrates similar pharmacokinetics and QT prolongation effects in healthy elderly individuals compared to younger adults.
Supports standard dosing in healthy elderly without added QT risk; extends PK data but leaves open effects in patients with comorbidities.
Escitalopram is the (S)-enantiomer of citalopram that has a potential QT prolonging effect. In this study, 12 healthy elderly individuals received a single oral dose of escitalopram (20 mg), and their pharmacokinetics and QT effect data were compared with data from 33 younger adults obtained in a previous study. Serial blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected and ECG was performed up to 48 h postdose. The elderly and younger adults showed similar pharmacokinetic profiles. The geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) of the elderly compared with the younger adults were 1.02 (0.89-1.17) and 1.01 (0.86-1.17) for the maximum plasma concentration and area under the concentration-time curve, respectively. The mean baseline-adjusted QT (dQT) time profiles were similar and the mean values of maximum dQT were not significantly different between the elderly and the younger adults. The linear mixed-effect model indicated a weak but positive relationship between the escitalopram concentration and dQT, with an estimated coefficient of concentration of 0.43-0.54. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetics and QT effect of a single dose of escitalopram observed in the elderly without comorbidities and younger adults were generally similar.
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Chung et al. (2016) conducted an observational in Healthy (n=45). Single-dose escitalopram vs. Younger adults was evaluated on Maximum plasma concentration (Geometric mean ratio 1.02, 95% CI 0.89-1.17). A single 20 mg dose of escitalopram showed similar pharmacokinetic profiles and QT effects in healthy elderly individuals compared with younger adults (Cmax geometric mean ratio 1.02; 90% CI 0.89-1.17).
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