Effects of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers

Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant approved for the prevention of rejection following transplantation and is a substrate for CYP3A and P-glycoprotein. A pharmacokinetic interaction between St. John's wort (antidepressant herbal product and inducer of CYP3A and P-glycoprotein) and tacrolimus was evaluated in 10 healthy volunteers. The pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus were obtained from serial blood samples collected following single oral doses (0.1 mg/kg) prior to and during an 18-day concomitant St. John's wort dosing phase (300 mg orally three times daily). Coadministration of St. John's wort significantly decreased tacrolimus AUC (306.9 microg.h/L +/- 175.8 microg.h/L vs. 198.7 microg.h/L +/- 139.6 microg.h/L; p=0.004) and increased apparent oral clearance (349.0 mL/h/kg +/- 126.0 mL/h/kg vs. 586.4 mL/h/kg +/- 274.9 mL/h/kg; p=0.01) and apparent oral volume of distribution at steady state (11.5 L/kg +/- 4.3 L/kg vs. 17.6 L/kg +/- 9.6 L/kg; p=0.04). St. John's wort appears to induce tacrolimus metabolism, most likely through induction of CYP3A and P-glycoprotein.     

Pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine pre- and post-liver transplantation

Cyclosporine (CyA) is an immunosuppressant metabolized primarily by the liver and small intestine. The pharmacokinetics (PK) of CyA-were studied in 6 patients prior to and 1 to 3 months after liver transplantation (tx). Sixteen blood samples were collected over 24 hours following a 2-3 mg/kg intravenous dose of CyA. PK parameters, presented as mean +/- SD, were estimated using noncompartmental techniques. Pre-tx AUCs (14,540 +/- 5200 micrograms.h/L) were found to be significantly higher than during the post-tx phase (8120 +/- 2870 micrograms.h/L, p = 0.04). CyA clearance values were lower pre-tx as compared to post-tx (0.21 +/- 0.06 L/h/kg vs. 0.38 +/- 0.14 L/h/kg, respectively). There was no change in volume of distribution. End-stage liver disease can markedly decrease hepatic clearance of CyA relative to patients with stable hepatic function post-liver tx. The degree of impairment in clearance is not consistent or predictable based on liver function tests.     

The disposition of alfentanil in neonates with respiratory distress

The disposition of continuous infusion alfentanil was evaluated in 13 mechanically ventilated neonates (gestational age 37.6 +/- 2.4 wks) with hyaline membrane disease (n = 7) or persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (n = 6). Alfentanil was administered as a loading dose 8 micrograms/kg, followed by a variable-rate continuous infusion (maximum 10 micrograms/kg/hr; minimum 2.5 micrograms/kg/hr) for 27 hours. Serial plasma samples were obtained for pharmacokinetic analysis. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis of the data revealed the following estimates (mean +/- SD): total-body clearance 3.24 +/- 2.23 ml/kg/minute, volume of distribution 0.54 +/- 0.21 L/kg, and elimination half-life 4.14 +/- 2.58 hours. A significant effect of alfentanil plasma concentration on total-body clearance was found (r = -0.75; p = 0.02), suggesting nonlinear pharmacokinetics. No correlation was seen between total-body clearance and alfentanil dose (r = -0.37; p = 0.32). The results suggest that a larger dose-proportionality study is required to determine the linearity or nonlinearity of alfentanil pharmacokinetics in neonates.     

Ritonavir decreases the nonrenal clearance of digoxin in healthy volunteers with known MDR1 genotypes

Our objective was to examine the influence of ritonavir on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity in humans by characterizing the effect of ritonavir on the pharmacokinetics of the P-gp substrate digoxin in individuals with known MDR1 genotypes. Healthy volunteers received a single dose of digoxin 0.4 mg orally before and after 14 days of ritonavir 200 mg twice daily. After each digoxin dose blood and urine were collected over 72 hours and analyzed for digoxin. Digoxin pharmacokinetic parameter values were determined using noncompartmental methods. MDR1 genotypes at positions 3435 and 2677 in exons 26 and 21, respectively, were determined using PCR-RFLP analysis. Ritonavir increased the digoxin AUC(0-72) from 26.20 +/- 8.67 to 31.96 +/- 11.24 ng x h/mL (P = 0.03) and the AUC(0-8) from 6.25 +/- 1.8 to 8.04 +/- 2.22 ng x h/mL (P = 0.02) in 12 subjects. Digoxin oral clearance decreased from 149 +/- 101 mL/h x kg to 105 +/- 57 mL/h x kg (P = 0.04). Other digoxin pharmacokinetic parameter values, including renal clearance, were unaffected by ritonavir. Overall, 75% (9/12) of subjects had higher concentrations of digoxin after ritonavir administration. The majority of subjects were heterozygous at position 3435 (C/T) (6 subjects) and position 2677 (G/T,A) (7 subjects); although data are limited, the effect of ritonavir on digoxin pharmacokinetics appears to occur across all tested MDR1 genotypes. Concomitant low-dose ritonavir reduced the nonrenal clearance of digoxin, thereby increasing its systemic availability. The most likely mechanism for this interaction is ritonavir-associated inhibition of P-gp. Thus, ritonavir can alter the pharmacokinetics of coadministered medications that are P-gp substrates.     

Cimetidine versus famotidine: the effect on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline in rats

The effects of cimetidine and a new, potent H2-antagonist, famotidine, on the single dose pharmacokinetics of theophylline were examined in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 rats/group) received an i.v. dose of theophylline (6 mg/kg) alone and in conjunction with an i.v. dose of famotidine (10 mg/kg) or cimetidine (10 mg/kg). Venous blood samples were collected serially for seven hours after theophylline infusion and analyzed for theophylline concentration by HPLC. Concomitant famotidine administration did not alter any of the pharmacokinetic parameters of theophylline (AUC0- infinity; 38.1 +/- 8.7 vs. 38.8 +/- 6.3 micrograms.hr.ml-1), while cimetidine demonstrated a significant reduction in theophylline systemic clearance (0.11 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.16 +/- 0.02 L/hr/kg; p less than 0.001), a 40% prolongation of half-life (2.8 +/- 0.9 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.5 hr), with no change in the volume of distribution (0.39 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.41 +/- 0.13 L/kg). These results suggest that in contrast to cimetidine, famotidine, a non-imidazole H2-receptor antagonist, does not interfere with theophylline disposition in the rat.     

Pharmacokinetics of micafungin in healthy volunteers, volunteers with moderate liver disease, and volunteers with renal dysfunction

Micafungin is an antifungal agent metabolized by arylsulfatase with secondary metabolism by catechol-O-methyltransferase. The objectives of this study were to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters and plasma protein binding of micafungin in volunteers with moderate hepatic dysfunction (n = 8), volunteers with creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min (n = 9), and matched controls (n = 8 and n = 9, respectively). Single-dose micafungin pharmacokinetics were estimated using noncompartmental techniques. There was a statistically lower area under the observed micafungin concentration-time curve (AUC) from time 0 to infinity for subjects with moderate hepatic dysfunction as compared to control subjects (97.5 +/- 19 microg.h/mL vs 125.9 +/- 26.4 microg.h/mL, P = .03), although there was no difference in micafungin weight-adjusted clearance (10.9 +/- 1.7 mL/h/kg vs 9.8 +/- 1.8 mL/h/kg, P = .2). The difference in area under the concentration-time curve may be explained by the differences in body weight between subjects and controls. Renal dysfunction did not alter micafungin pharmacokinetics.     

Pharmacokinetic variations of acetaminophen according to liver dysfunction and portal hypertension status

AIM: To study the pharmacokinetic and metabolism profiles of a single dose of acetaminophen in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Oral acetaminophen (1000 mg) was administered to seven healthy subjects and 14 patients with cirrhosis (nine Child-Pugh A or B and five Child-Pugh C grade), being five without and nine with oesophageal varices. Plasma levels of acetaminophen and its metabolites were determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Patients showed a higher mean area under the curve concentration-time (67.4 +/- 22.4 mg h/L vs. 38.8 +/- 4.3 mg h/L; P = 0.01), a lower clearance (166.7 +/- 85.0 mL/min vs. 367.8 +/- 62.5 mL/min; P = 0.01) and higher elimination half-life (3.8 +/- 1.1 h vs. 2.0 +/- 0.4 h; P = 0.01) of acetaminophen than healthy volunteers. The appearance in blood and the urinary excretion of metabolites in patients did not differ from healthy subjects. Absorption profile was faster in patients. Patients with lower mean and systolic arterial pressure had lower AUC of acetaminophen, independently of liver dysfunction stage. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cirrhosis had a higher AUC and lower clearance of acetaminophen. Acetaminophen attained earlier therapeutic concentrations in patients with oesophageal varices. Mean and systolic arterial pressures were significantly associated with AUC suggesting the importance of the haemodynamic function on the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen in patients with cirrhosis.     

Comparative oxycodone pharmacokinetics in humans after intravenous, oral, and rectal administration.

The pharmacokinetics of oxycodone have been determined after single-dose administration by the intravenous (4.6-7.3 mg), oral (tablets, 9.1 mg and syrup, 9.1 mg), and rectal (30 mg) routes, in 48 patients undergoing minor surgery. There were no significant differences in the mean elimination half-lives between the intravenous (5.45 +/- 1.43 h), oral tablets (5.65 +/- 1.13 h), oral syrup (4.80 +/- 1.13 h), and rectal suppository (5.40 +/- 1.19 h) formulations of oxycodone. After intravenous administration, the mean plasma clearance of oxycodone was 25.5 +/- 10.1 L/h and the mean volume of distribution at steady state was 2.5 +/- 0.8 L/kg. The mean normalized area under the curve (AUC/D) obtained after intravenous dosing (48.2 +/- 30.2 micrograms.h/L/mg) was more than twice the AUC/D values obtained after the administration of oxycodone tablets (19.8 +/- 3.5 micrograms.h/L/mg), oxycodone syrup (17.5 +/- 5.3 micrograms.h/L/mg), and rectal suppository (20.3 +/- 5.1 micrograms.h/L/mg), indicating that the amount of oxycodone reaching the systemic circulation after the extravascular routes of administration was < 50% of that obtained after intravenous dosing. The mean absorption lag times after oxycodone tablets (0.52 +/- 0.33 h), oxycodone syrup (0.48 +/- 0.40 h), and rectal suppository (0.76 +/- 0.47 h) were consistent with the onset of pharmacological effects reported by the patients.     

HPLC-MS/MS法测定血浆中莪术醇浓度及Beagle犬体内的药代动力学研究

建立HPLC-MS/MS法测定血浆中莪术醇含量，研究其在Beagle犬体内药代动力学特征。Beagle犬9只，随机分为3组，分别静脉推注不同剂量(7.5，10.0和12.5 mg·kg^-1)的莪术油脂肪乳剂，按设定时间股静脉取血，采用HPLC-MS/MS法测定莪术油脂肪乳剂主要有效成分莪术醇血浆浓度，计算莪术醇药代动力学参数。莪术醇血浓度线性范围为0.25～100 ng·mL^-1；相对回收率为91.33%～103.17%，绝对回收率为31.61%～37.20%，单次静脉注射不同剂量莪术油脂肪乳剂后，其主要有效成分莪术醇Beagle犬体内代谢过程基本符合三室模型，莪术醇主要药代动力学参数AUC呈明显剂量相关性。本法操作简便、快速、灵敏度高、专属性强，可用于莪术醇体内药代动力学的研究。     

The pharmacokinetics of oral ranitidine in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis

The pharmacokinetics of oral ranitidine were studied in 9 patients (ages 9.9 to 19.6 years) with cystic fibrosis (CF). Patients were evaluated at steady-state conditions, and the mean maximum serum concentration (Cmax) was 845.7 +/- 448.1 ng/mL. To adjust for the variable drug dosing used among study patients, both Cmax and area under the concentration curve (AUC) were standardized to dose (CmaxST and AUCST, respectively) and were 217.9 +/- 87.9 ng/mL and 1038.0 +/- 242.2 ng/mL.h. The elimination half-life (t1/2) was 2.7 +/- 1.4 hours, and the apparent steady-state volume of distribution (Vdss) was 4.6 +/- 1.7 L/kg. The plasma clearance was 1.022 +/- 0.290 L/kg/h. The Vdss in this study was greater than that previously reported in children with peptic ulcer disease. Statistically significant relationships between pharmacokinetic parameters and measures of disease severity were not observed in the study population. The pharmacokinetics of ranitidine in children and adolescents with CF may differ from those in children and adolescents without CF.     

Influence of rifampicin pretreatment on the pharmacokinetics of celecoxib in healthy male volunteers

The effect of rifampicin pretreatment on the pharmacokinetics of celecoxib was investigated in 12 healthy male human volunteers. After an overnight fast, celecoxib 200 mg was administered to the volunteers, either alone or after 5 days pretreatment with once daily dose of 600 mg rifampicin. Serum concentrations of celecoxib were estimated by reverse phase HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined based on non-compartmental model analysis using the computer program KINETICA. A significant difference was observed in AUC(0-1) (4531.28 +/- 2147 vs 1629.1 +/- 1006 ng x h x ml(-1), p < 0.0001), AUC(0-infinity) (4632.42 +/- 2221.75 vs 1629.46 +/- 1012.61 ng x h x ml(-1), p = 0.0006), Cmax (544.89 +/- 273.91 vs 238.61 +/- 146.34 ng/ml, p = 0.04), t(1/2) (9.3 +/- 3.58 vs 4.0 +/- 1.43 h, p = 0.0317) and Cl/f (43.14 +/- 36.23 vs 122.85 +/- 95 l x h(-1), p < 0.0001) of celecoxib administered before and after rifampicin pretreatment. However, time to reach peak concentration, tmax (4 +/- 0.88 vs 4 +/- 0.83 h) and volume of distribution Vd/f (583 +/- 251 vs 710 +/- 690 l/kg) were not affected significantly. Rifampicin pretreatment reduced the AUC of celecoxib by 64% and increased the clearance by 185%. This may be due to increased metabolism of celecoxib due to the induction of cytochrome P4502C9 (CYP2C9) in liver. This interaction has a significant clinical relevance and may warrant dosage adjustment when celecoxib is co-administered with rifampicin in chronic treatment conditions, such as tuberculosis, leprosy and other infections of joints, bones, etc.     

Determinants of steady-state torasemide pharmacokinetics: impact of pharmacogenetic factors, gender and angiotensin II receptor blockers

BACKGROUND: Torasemide is frequently used for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. However, the determinants of torasemide pharmacokinetics in patients during steady-state conditions are largely unknown. We therefore explored the impact of genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 (CYP2C9) and organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 (SLCO1B1), gender, and the effects of losartan and irbesartan comedication on the interindividual variability of steady-state pharmacokinetics of torasemide. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients receiving stable medication with torasemide 10 mg once daily and with an indication for additional angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) treatment to control hypertension or to treat heart failure were selected. Blood samples were taken before torasemide administration and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after administration. After this first study period, patients received either irbesartan 150 mg (five female and seven male patients aged 69+/-8 years) or losartan 100 mg (two female and ten male patients aged 61+/-8 years) once daily. After 3 days of ARB medication, eight blood samples were again collected at the timepoints indicated above. The patients' long-term medications, which did not include known CYP2C9 inhibitors, were maintained at a constant dose during the study. All patients were genotyped for CYP2C9 (*1/*1 [n=15]; *1/*2 [n = 4]; *1/*3 [n=5]) as well as for SLCO1B1 (c.521TT [n=13]; c.521TC [n=11]). RESULTS: Factorial ANOVA revealed an independent impact of the CYP2C9 genotype (dose-normalized area under the plasma concentration-time curve during the 24-hour dosing interval at steady state [AUC(24,ss)/D]: *1/*1 375.5+/-151.4 microg x h/L/mg vs *1/*3 548.5+/-271.6 microg x h/L/mg, p=0.001), the SLCO1B1 genotype (AUC(24,ss)/D: TT 352.3+/-114 microg x h/L/mg vs TC 487.6+/-218.4 microg x h/L/mg, p<0.05) and gender (AUC(24,ss)/D: males 359.5+/-72.2 microg x h/L/mg vs females 547.3+/-284 microg x h/L/mg, p<0.01) on disposition of torasemide. Coadministration of irbesartan caused a 13% increase in the AUC(24,ss)/D of torasemide (p=0.002), whereas losartan had no effect. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the CYP2C9*3 and SLCO1B1 c.521TC genotype and female gender are significant and independent predictors of the pharmacokinetics of torasemide. Coadministration of irbesartan yields moderate but significant increases in the torasemide plasma concentration and elimination half-life.     

Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

The pharmacokinetics of a meloxicam suspension were studied in 18 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Children received a single 0.25-mg/kg dose up to a maximum of 15 mg. Pharmacokinetic parameters after the first dose were calculated by noncompartmental methods. Geometric mean (percent coefficient of variation for geometric mean [gCV]) C(max), AUC(0- infinity ), apparent clearance, apparent volume of distribution, and elimination half-life values were 1.24 microg/mL (47% gCV), 25.6 microg x h/mL (81% gCV), 0.17 mL/min/kg (83% gCV), 0.19 L/kg (63% gCV), and 13.4 hours (54% gCV) in the younger group and 1.89 microg/mL (25% gCV), 35.8 microg x h/mL (21% gCV), 0.12 mL/min/kg (23% gCV), 0.13 L/kg (22% gCV), and 12.7 hours (21% gCV) for the older group, respectively. Area under the curve, volume of distribution, and clearance tended to be higher in the younger group, whereas elimination half-lives were similar. A post hoc comparison to pharmacokinetic data in adults revealed no relevant differences. Thus, a common body weight-normalized dose is considered appropriate for children older than 2 years.     

Comparison of adinazolam pharmacokinetics and effects in healthy and cirrhotic subjects

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of adinazolam were investigated in six patients with cirrhosis and six sex-matched control subjects. These subjects received a single 30-mg oral dose of adinazolam mesylate. Serial blood samples were collected for 24 hours after drug administration. Plasma was assayed for adinazolam and mono-desmethyl-adinazolam (NDMAD) concentrations by a specific HPLC technique. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by noncompartmental methods. Psychomotor effects of adinazolam were assessed using a digit-symbol substitution test (DSST) and aiming test (AIM). Memory effects were assessed by a modification of the Randt memory test (MEM); sedation was assessed using an observer-rated scale. Differences in pharmacokinetics of the parent drug were noted: adinazolam oral clearance was lower in patients with cirrhosis (35.0 +/- 27.9 L/hr) than in normal subjects (73.7 +/- 22.1 L/hr; P = .024); Kel was significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis (.126 +/- .084 vs. .278 +/- .070; P = .007), whereas the mean t1/2 in patients with cirrhosis was 7.70 hours as compared with 2.67 hours in normal subjects. Cmax was higher in the group with cirrhosis (266 +/- 95.5 vs. 153 +/- 29.3 ng/mL; P = .019). For NDMAD, Kel was lower in cirrhotic subjects and resulted in a prolonged t1/2 in cirrhotic subjects compared with normal subjects (6.70 vs. 3.79 hr; P = .0152). NDMAD AUC tended to be higher in cirrhotic subjects (1515 +/- 254 vs. 1162 +/- 254 ng.hr/mL; P = .064). No significant differences were noted in psychomotor performance, memory, or sedation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pharmacokinetic study of all-trans-retinoyl-beta-D-glucuronide in Sprague-Dawley rats after single and multiple intravenous administration(s).

All-trans-retinoyl-beta-D-glucuronide (RAG) is an endogenous active metabolite of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). In the present study, the pharmacokinetics of RAG was examined after the administration of a single intravenous does (5, 10, or 15 micromol/kg) and of multiple daily intravenous doses (5 micromol/kg) to rats for 8 days. The plasma concentrations of RAG and ATRA were measured by a reverse-phase HPLC method. A rapid distribution phase of approximately 1 h was observed in all of the rats after single or multiple doses. Thereafter, RAG was eliminated through a first-order process, in accord with a typical two-compartment first order pharmacokinetic profile. After single intravenous doses, the AUC of RAG increased proportionally with the dose and the clearance remained unchanged within the tested doses. There was no statistical significant difference in distribution rate constants from central compartment to peripheral compartment (K(12)) and from peripheral compartment to central compartment (K(21)) between different doses. However, as the dose increased from 5 micromol/kg to 10 micromol/kg, the volume of distribution at the steady state (V(ss)) and the volume of peripheral compartment (V(p)) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 1.290 +/- 0.269, 0.928 +/- 0.232. L/kg to 0.961 +/- 0.149, 0.647 +/- 0.107 L/kg, respectively. V(ss) and V(p) at a dose of 15 micromol/kg (0.924 +/- 0.187, 0.698 +/- 0.165 L/kg) were not significantly different from that at 10 micromol/kg. Thus, RAG might saturate the tissue-binding sites at higher doses. ATRA was detected as a metabolite of RAG at low levels (usually < 0.05 microM) only in the first 2 h after intravenous administration. RAG clearly was not extensively hydrolyzed to ATRA in our study. After multiple daily intravenous administration of RAG, the clearance (Cl) and the elimination rate constant (K(10)) remained unchanged (p > 0.05), indicating that long-term daily administration of RAG did not induce its accelerated metabolism. However, K(12), V(p), and V(ss) declined significantly (p < 0.05) from 1.67 +/- 0.54 h(-1), 0.928 +/- 0.232 L/kg, and 1.290 +/- 0.269 L/kg to 0.96 +/- 0.48 h(-1), 0.494 +/- 0.147 L/kg, and 0.818 +/- 0.187 L/kg, respectively. Therefore, long-term daily dosing of RAG seemed to decrease its distribution profile. Although the AUC of RAG did not change significantly after multiple dosing, the AUC of ATRA after RAG dosing significantly declined (p < 0.05) from 0.032 +/- 0.019 microM x h to 0.010 +/- 0.006 microM x h. The decline in the AUC of ATRA might reflect an increase in its uptake by tissue and/or in its metabolism. Because enhanced clearance is not associated with RAG after multiple administrations, RAG could be considered as an alternate to ATRA in appropriate clinical applications.     

Pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of eprosartan in Chinese healthy volunteers of different gender

The study aims to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of eprosartan in Chinese healthy volunteers and to study the effect of gender on pharmacokinetics of eprosartan. Twenty healthy volunteers (ten men and ten women) were recruited for an open trial and received a single dose of 600 mg eprosartan. Using a validated LC/MS/MS method, plasma and urinary concentrations of eprosartan were determined. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were elucidated after administration: the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve from 0 to 32 h (AUC0-32h) 14818.75 +/- 7312.11 ng x h/mL, the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve from 0 to infinite (AUC(0-infinity)) 15081.62 +/- 7379.63 ng x h/mL, peak plasma concentration (Cmax) 3664.25 x 1653.94 ng x h/mL, time to Cmax (Tmax) 1.63 +/- 0.46 h, elimination half-life (t(1/2)) 8.03 +/- 4.04 h, apparent clearance (CL/F) 47.84 +/- 19.21 L/h, apparent volume of distribution of the central compartment (V/F) 537.21 +/- 287.91 L, renal clearance (CLr) 1.33 +/- 0.41 L/h, amount of unchanged eprosartan excreted into urine 18.44 +/- 6.43 mg and fraction of unchanged eprosartan excreted into urine 3.07 +/- 1.07%. Our results also indicated that no gender differences were observed in the pharmacokinetics of eprosartan in Chinese healthy volunteers.     

Concomitant clotrimazole therapy more than doubles the relative oral bioavailability of tacrolimus

The purpose of this pharmacokinetic study was to determine whether the relative oral bioavailability of tacrolimus is increased with concomitant administration of clotrimazole. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in 6 adult kidney transplant patients receiving tacrolimus therapy. Pharmacokinetic profiling was performed by blood sampling over 12 hours before and after the administration of a 5-day course of clotrimazole. Tacrolimus whole-blood concentrations were determined by microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using WinNonLin, Standard Edition, Version 1.1. Concomitant administration of clotrimazole more than doubled the relative oral bioavailability of tacrolimus. The mean AUC0-12 of tacrolimus was increased 250% with clotrimazole (467.0 +/- 170.0 ng.h/mL versus 188.7 +/- 50.2 ng.h/mL; P = 0.002). Tacrolimus blood trough concentrations also more than doubled with coadministration of clotrimazole (27.7 +/- 10.4 ng/mL versus 11.6 +/- 4.0 ng/mL; P = 0.003). Mean Cmax was significantly increased with clotrimazole (70.7 +/- 34.7 ng/mL versus 27.4 +/- 11.1 ng/mL, P = 0.01). Tmax decreased from 3.2 +/- 1.6 hours to 1.9 +/- 1.0 hours (P = NS). In addition, the apparent oral clearance decreased 60% with coadministration of clotrimazole (median oral clearance 0.16 L/h/kg versus 0.40 L/h/kg; P = 0.03). Thus, clotrimazole causes a significant increase in the relative oral bioavailability, Tmax, and trough concentration of tacrolimus. Tacrolimus levels should be monitored following initiation or discontinuation of clotrimazole to minimize toxicity or precipitation of an acute rejection episode due to subtherapeutic levels.     

Flecainide pharmacokinetics after multiple dosing in patients with impaired renal function

Study objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of oral flecainide acetate after single and multiple doses in patients with impaired renal function. Design: Paired study of single followed by multiple oral doses. Setting: Patients enrolled in a Veterans Administration Hospital renal subspecialty clinic and dialysis unit. Patients: Twenty men and one woman between the ages of 33 and 74 years with impaired renal function including ten patients with end-stage renal disease receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Interventions: All patients received a single, oral, 200-mg dose of flecainide acetate followed by sequential venous blood sampling. Seven to 14 days after the single-dose study, each patient received 100 mg of flecainide acetate by mouth every 12 hours or every 24 hours for 10 days. Venous blood samples were drawn periodically during multiple dosing and sequentially after the last dose. Measurements and primary results: Peak flecainide acetate concentrations (micrograms/L) were 330 +/- 104 micrograms/L (mean +/- SD) after the single dose and 687 +/- 505 micrograms/L after multiple doses. Time to peak occurred at 3.3 +/- 2.3 hours and 2.7 +/- 1.2 hours after single and multiple doses, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution was 8.2 +/- 2.9 L/kg and 9.2 +/- 5 L/kg after single and multiple dose studies, respectively. Plasma elimination half-life after the single dose (20.4 +/- 9.0 hours) was significantly shorter (P less than .001) than after multiple doses (37.8 +/- 39.7 hours), as was total body clearance: 391 +/- 154 mL/min versus 302 +/- 194 mL/min. There were no statistically significant differences between pharmacokinetic measurements determined for patients on chronic hemodialysis when compared with nondialysis patients during the multiple-dose study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of haloperidol tablet by liquid chromatographic mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization

The purpose of this study is to investigate the bioequivalence of two haloperidol 5 mg tablets, Myung In haloperidol (Myung In Pharm. Co., Ltd., test drug) and Peridol (Whanin Pharm. Co., Ltd., reference drug), and also to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters of haloperidol in Korean volunteers. The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of haloperidol tablets were examined on 24 healthy volunteers who received a single oral dose of each preparation in the fasting state in a randomized balanced 2 way crossover design. After an oral dosing, blood samples were collected for a period of 60 h. Plasma concentrations of haloperidol were determined using a liquid chromatographic electrospray mass spectrometric (LC-MS) method. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. The geometric means of AUC0-60h and Cmax between test and reference formulations were 17.21 +/- 8.26 ng x h/mL vs 17.31 +/- 13.24 ng x h/mL and 0.87 +/- 0.74 ng/mL vs 0.85 +/- 0.62 ng/mL, respectively. The 90% confidence intervals of mean difference of logarithmic transformed AUC0-60h and Cmax were log0.9677 - log1.1201 and log0.8208-log1.1981, respectively. It shows that the bioavailability of test drug is equivalent with that of reference drug. The geometric means of other pharmacokinetic parameters (AUCinf, t1/2, Vd/F, and CL/F) between test drug and reference drug were 21.75 +/- 8.50 ng x h/mL vs 21.77 +/- 15.63 ng x h/mL, 29.87 +/- 8.25 h vs 29.60 +/- 7.56 h, 11.51 +/- 5.45 L vs 12.90 +/- 6.12 L and 0.26 +/- 0.09 L/h vs 0.31 +/- 0.17 L/h, respectively. These observations indicate that the two formulation for haloperidol was bioequivalent and, thus, may be clinically interchangeable.     

Factors influencing theophylline disposition in 179 newborns

The pharmacokinetics of intravenous theophylline were prospectively studied in 179 premature babies. Interrelated variables were analyzed for their influence on theophylline serum clearance. Gestational age, gender, duration of treatment, body weight, and Apgar scores were not found to correlate significantly with theophylline clearance. Weak but statistically significant correlations were found between serum clearance and postnatal (p less than 0.005) and postconceptional age (p less than 0.01). No significant difference in mean serum clearance (Cls) values was found between small-for-gestational-age (SGA) patients (Cls = 17.9 +/- 5.3 ml/kg/h) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) patients (Cls = 18.8 +/- 5.8 ml/kg/h). Conversely, asphyxiated patients had significantly lower mean clearance values than nonasphyxiated patients (16.4 +/- 5.3 ml/kg/h vs. 20.2 +/- 5.4 ml/kg/h, respectively, p less than 0.001). Volume of distribution for theophylline (n = 147) was 0.77 +/- 0.17 L/kg; there was no significant difference in distribution volumes between asphyxiated and nonasphyxiated patients or between SGA and AGA patients. Step-wise multiple regression analysis revealed postnatal age as the most important determinant of theophylline clearance among the variables analyzed (p less than 0.01). Postconceptional age had a statistically significant association with theophylline clearance in the entire group (n = 179, p less than 0.05). Duration of treatment had a small and statistically borderline effect (p less than 0.10) on theophylline clearance among nonasphyxiated infants when age factors were considered. Analysis of covariance confirmed the statistical effects of both postnatal age and asphyxia on theophylline serum clearance.