We have investigated the pharmacokinetics of the direct vasodilator flosequinan in elderly patients with congestive heart failure. Eight patients received a single dose of 50 mg, and 8 patients received once-daily treatment with 25 mg for two weeks. In the single dose study, the tmax of flosequinan was 2.5 h, Cmax was 1.17 microgram.ml-1 and t1/2 was 5.63 h. The tmax of the metabolite BTS 53554 was 20.3 h, Cmax was 1.44 microgram.ml-1 and t1/2 was 62.0 h. BTS 53554 accumulated gradually in the 14-day repeated dose study and steady-state was reached after approximately 2 weeks. Flosequinan was not found to accumulate. Adverse reactions were not observed in either the single or repeated dose study. It is advisable to consider renal function and body weight when flosequinan is to be administered to elderly patients with congestive heart failure. The initial dose should be 25 mg.