Effect of Hydralazine on the Elimination of Antipyrine in the Rat

The concomitant administration of hydralazine with metoprolol or propranolol substantially increases the oral bioavailability of these beta-blockers, presumably via reduction of the first-pass effect. It has been suggested that this effect may be secondary to a decrease in the intrinsic clearance of propranolol, possibly by inhibition of oxidative metabolism. To examine the possibility that hydralazine alters oxidative metabolism in vivo, the effect of hydralazine on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine was examined in the rat. The oral administration of hydralazine hydrochloride, 7.5 mg/kg, 15 min prior to antipyrine administration reduced antipyrine clearance from 9.66 ± 1.18 to 8.19 ± 0.76 ml/min/kg (P < 0.05). Hydralazine was observed to cause substantial hypothermia. The study was repeated in temperature-regulated animals and no alteration in antipyrine clearance was found. Two doses of hydralazine in temperature-regulated rats also failed to alter antipyrine clearance. Thus, it appears that the effect of hydralazine on antipyrine clearance is secondary to the hypothermic effect of hydralazine and not due to a direct inhibition of cytochrome P-450-mediated enzyme activity.