Oral absorption of cimetidine and its clearance in patients with renal failure

Summary The plasma concentration curve after a single oral dose of cimetidine 200 mg was followed in 27 patients with varying degrees of chronic renal failure (creatinine clearance 1–52 ml/min) and in 46 patients with normal serum creatinine. Compared to the latter patients, the plasma concentration was higher and the elimination rate was slower in all uraemic subjects, including a group with moderate renal impairment. The preliminary recommendations of dosage for patients with a creatinine clearance below 5 ml/min, and for patients on regular haemodialysis, is cimetidine 200 mg every 12 h, 5–15 ml/min 200 mg every 12 to 8 h, 15–30 ml/min 200 mg every 8 h and 30–52 ml/min 200 mg every 6 h.     

The pharmacokinetics of cimetidine and its sulphoxide metabolite in patients with normal and impaired renal function.

1 The pharmacokinetics of cimetidine and its sulphoxide metabolite was studied after a single intravenous dose of 200 mg cimetidine in nine patients with normal renal function and ten patients with severe renal failure on regular haemodialysis and during continuous oral cimetidine treatment in ten patients with normal renal function and 31 patients with different degrees of renal failure. 2 In normal renal function a mean of 47.3% of the single intravenous dose was excreted as unchanged drug and 12.8% as cimetidine sulphoxide. The mean plasma elimination half-life (T1/2) of cimetidine was 2.0 h and of cimetidine sulphoxide 1.7 h. 3 In severe renal failure a mean of 2.2% of the single intravenous dose was excreted as unchanged drug and 0.5% as cimetidine sulphoxide. The mean plasma T1/2 of cimetidine was 3.9 h. The plasma concentrations of the sulphoxide metabolite increased successively with time after dosing and no elimination phase was observed still 9 h after dose. The mean non-renal clearance of cimetidine was 210 ml/min and lower than in normal renal function, suggesting decreased metabolism of cimetidine in uraemia. 4 During continuous oral cimetidine treatment in patients with normal renal function and in patients g and no elimination phase was observed still 9 h after dose. The mean non-renal clearance of cimetidine was 210 ml/min and lower than in normal renal function, suggesting decreased metabolism of cimetidine in uraemia. 4 During continuous oral cimetidine treatment in patients with normal renal function and in patients g and no elimination phase was observed still 9 h after dose. The mean non-renal clearance of cimetidine was 210 ml/min and lower than in normal renal function, suggesting decreased metabolism of cimetidine in uraemia. 4 During continuous oral cimetidine treatment in patients with normal renal function and in patients with different degrees of renal failure given reduced doses of cimetidine the plasma concentrations of the sulphoxide metabolite were higher with decreasing renal function. The mean plasma T1/2 of cimetidine was 3.1 h in mild renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance 50-75 ml/min) and 4.5 h in severe renal failure (creatinine clearance 5-15 ml/min) and of cimetidine sulphoxide 5.3 and 14.4 h respectively. 5 Toxicity studies of cimetidine sulphoxide may be needed to assess if high plasma concentrations of the sulphoxide metabolite in severe renal failure are of clinical significance.     

Binding and disposition of sulfisoxazole in alcoholic cirrhosis

The disposition of sulfisoxazole was studied in six male patients hospitalized with biopsy-proven Laennec's alcoholic cirrhosis and six normal, healthy volunteers. Four of the patients were restudied at a time their liver disease had improved clinically. On the average, compared to the normal group, the metabolism of sulfisoxazole (clearance values with respect to unbound concentration values) appears to be unaltered for the cirrhotic patients. For patients with alcoholic cirrhosis having normal renal function for age and weight, the renal elimination of sulfisoxazole was normal. For those subjects with decreased renal function, the renal clearance of sulfisoxazole appeared to be disproportionately decreased, as evidenced by a lower-than-normal sulfisoxazole renal clearance-to-creatinine clearance values. The apparent steady-state volume of distribution of unbound sulfisoxazole was not altered in cirrhotic patients when compared to normal subjects, while the apparent volume of distribution of total drug increased by more than what could be expected from protein binding changes alone. The elimination rate constant did not differ from values found in normals. These data suggest that the total binding capacity of sulfisoxazole in cirrhotic patients is not different from that of normal subjects.     

Pharmacokinetics of esmolol in hepatic disease

Esmolol is an intravenous beta blocker with a short duration of action. The pharmacokinetics of esmolol and its acid metabolite, ASL-8123, were studied in nine patients who had stable, biopsy-proved Laennec's cirrhosis and in three normal volunteer controls. Kinetics were determined after a four-hour continuous infusion of esmolol at a rate of 200 micrograms/kg/min. Blood samples were collected during the infusions and at frequent intervals thereafter. The parameters studied were the steady state concentration, the total body clearance, the elimination half-life, the area under the curve, and the volume of distribution. No significant differences in any of these parameters were detected between control subjects and those with hepatic disease, for either esmolol or its acid metabolite. It is concluded from this study that Laennec's cirrhosis does not cause any change in the pharmacokinetics of esmolol or its major metabolite. Therefore, adjustments in dosage of esmolol are not required for patients with Laennec's cirrhosis.     

Pharmacokinetics of tocainide in patients with renal dysfunction and during haemodialysis

Summary The disposition of tocainide was studied in 15 patients with renal dysfunction. In 9 with total renal failure, the plasma half-life ranged from 16.6 to 42.7 h and total plasma clearance from 35 to 94 ml/min. The longest half-lives were found in 1 patient with cirrhosis, 3 taking the enzyme inhibitor allopurinol, and 1 on cimetidine. The mean half-life in the remaining patients was 22.3±4.8 h (±SD). During a 4 h haemodialysis, the half-life in the 9 patients decreased to 8.5±4.6 h, which was calculated to correspond to removal of 25±14% of the drug from the body. In 6 patients with impaired renal function (creatinine clearance 10–55 ml/min) the tocainide half-life ranged from 13.2 to 22.0 h and total plasma clearance from 72 to 122 ml/min. One patient was taking allopurinol and 1 dihydralazine, and the mean half-life in the others was 19.2±4.0 h. The apparent volume of distribution was similar to that found previously in healthy subjects. The results suggest that tocainide elimination is predictably reduced in patients with renal disease.     

Pharmacokinetics of hydrochlorothiazide in relation to renal function

The pharmacokinetics of hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) was investigated in 23 subjects with normal renal function or widely varying degrees of renal failure. The half-life of elimination increased from 6.4 h in subjects with normal renal function to 11.5 h in patients with mild renal impairment (endogenous creatinine clearance between 30 and 90 ml/min), and to 20.7 h in patients with an endogenous creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min. The cumulative urinary excretion and the renal HCT clearance were correspondingly reduced in patients with impaired kidney function. In normal subjects HCT was mainly excreted by tubular secretion, but as renal HCT clearance in patients with renal impairment did not differ significantly from endogenous creatinine clearance, it was concluded that the secretory mechanism is most markedly impaired. In patients with an endogenous creatinine clearance of 30 to 90 ml/min, the dosage of HCT should be reduced to 1/2 and in patients with a endogenous creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min to 1/4 of the normal daily dose to avoid dose dependant side-effects.     

Binding and disposition of sulfisoxazole in alcoholic cirrhosis

The disposition of sulfisoxazole was studied in six male patients hospitalized with biopsy-proven Laennec's alcoholic cirrhosis and six normal, healthy volunteers. Four of the patients were restudied at a time their liver disease had improved clinically. On the average, compared to the normal group, the metabolism of sulfisoxazole (clearance values with respect to unbound concentration values) appears to be unaltered for the cirrhotic patients. For patients with alcoholic cirrhosis having normal renal function for age and weight, the renal elimination of sulfisoxazole was normal For those subjects with decreased renal function, the renal clearance of sulfisoxazole appeared to be disproportionately decreased, as evidenced by a lower-than-normal sulfisoxazole renal clearance-to-creatinine clearance values. The apparent steady-state volume of distribution of unbound sulfisoxazole was not altered in cirrhotic patients when compared to normal subjects, while the apparent volume of distribution of total drug increased by more than what could be expected from protein binding changes alone. The elimination rate constant did not differ from values found in normals. These data suggest that the total binding capacity of sulfisoxazole in cirrhotic patients is not different from that of normal subjects.Supported in part by Grants GM 25807, GM 28423, HL-11046 and AM-06415 from National Institutes of Health.     

Reduction of metformin renal tubular secretion by cimetidine in man.

To determine whether cimetidine altered the renal handling of metformin, seven subjects took 0.25 g metformin daily with and without cimetidine 0.4 g twice daily. Blood and urine samples were collected and assayed for metformin, cimetidine and creatinine by h.p.l.c. Cimetidine significantly increased the area under the plasma metformin concentration-time curve by an average of 50% and reduced its renal clearance over 24 h by 27% (P less than 0.008). There was no alteration in the total urinary recovery of metformin when cimetidine was co-administered. The effect of cimetidine on the renal clearance of metformin was time dependent, being significantly reduced up to 6 h following cimetidine. These results appeared to be consistent with competitive inhibition of renal tubular secretion. Cimetidine had no effect on the renal clearance of creatinine, but time-dependent variations in both metformin and creatinine renal clearance were observed. Metformin had no effect on cimetidine disposition. It is concluded that cimetidine inhibits the renal tubular secretion of metformin in man, resulting in higher circulating plasma concentrations. Because of its propensity for causing dose and concentration-dependent adverse effects, the dose of metformin should be reduced when cimetidine is co-prescribed.     

Effect of cimetidine on serum uric acid concentration

The effect of cimetidine therapy on serum uric acid concentration was studied in four healthy men with normal renal function. Beginning four days before the 16-day study, subjects were permitted no beverages containing caffeine or alcohol and no medications and were placed on a weight-maintenance, isocaloric, purine-free 152-meq-sodium diet. On days 1-12 one cimetidine 300-mg tablet was taken four times daily; on days 13-16 no cimetidine was taken. On each study day, serum uric acid and creatinine and urine uric acid and creatinine concentrations were determined. Daily mean values for serum uric acid, total uric acid excreted, and uric acid clearance were not significantly different from baseline. No significant change occurred in creatinine excreted or creatinine clearance. Cimetidine administration to healthy men with normal renal function did not significantly affect serum uric acid concentration or renal clearance of urate.     

The effect of liver cirrhosis on the pharmacokinetics of phenprocoumon

Summary Phenprocoumon was given orally to 9 patients with biopsy proven liver cirrhosis (dose range 0.12–0.25 mg/kg) and to 7 healthy volunteers (0.23 mg/kg). Concentrations of phenprocoumon were determined using HPLC in plasma and urine samples obtained for 6–7 days after drug administration. The binding of [³H]-phenprocoumon in plasma from all subjects was determined by equilibrium dialysis. Antipyrine plasma concentrations were determined spectrophotometrically following oral administration of antipyrine (1200 mg). The total body clearance of phenprocoumon was higher in the cirrhotic patients (1.64±0.16 ml/h/kg mean ± SEM) than in the healthy volunteers (0.90±0.07 ml/h/kg), however the free drug clearance was not significantly different in the patients (144±14 ml/h/kg) compared with normal (113±11 ml/h/kg). In contrast the clearance of antipyrine was much reduced in the cirrhotic group (17.5±2.9 ml/h/kg) compared with normal (35.6±3.9 ml/h/kg). The metabolic clearance of phenprocoumon via glucuronidation, is relatively unaffected during cirrhosis compared with antipyrine clearance via oxidation.     

Alteration by burn injury of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cimetidine in children

Summary We have studied the mechanisms of the increased dosage requirements of the H₂-receptor antagonist cimetidine in paediatric burned patients in a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study.Cimetidine (10–15 mg·kg^–1) was given to 21 burned children and multiple blood samples were obtained for determination of plasma cimetidine concentrations and pharmacokinetic analysis.The relation of gastric pH to plasma cimetidine concentrations was studied in five of these children who had nasogastric tubes. In an additional four patients the effects of cimetidine on gastric pH were studied during a continuous infusion of cimetidine, which maintained steady-state plasma cimetidine concentrations above 0.5 µg·ml^–1.The mean (SEM) clearance of cimetidine in burned children was 16.22 ml·kg^–1 and cimetidine half-life was 1.06 h. The cimetidine clearance and half-life values were significantly higher in burned children compared with our previously reported values for normal adult patients, 8.2 ml·min·kg^–1 and 2.21 h respectively.Endogenous creatinine clearance normalized to 70 kg in burned children was 190 ml·min^–1. In burned children 41% of the dose of intact cimetidine was excreted during 8 h of the study compared with 45% excretion during 24 h in healthy adult controls previously reported. The correlation coefficient between creatinine and cimetidine clearances was 0.93 (r ²=0.85).The plasma concentration of cimetidine needed to increase gastric pH to 4.0 was 1.0 µg·ml^–1, which contrasts with the value of >0.5 µg·ml^–1 required for adult burned patients.These findings support the hypothesis that the higher dosage requirements of cimetidine in burned children is due both to enhanced elimination kinetics and to alterations in target organ sensitivity, requiring higher than normal plasma concentrations for the desired effect. In burned children Cimetidine should be given in higher doses and/or more frequently.     

Altered disposition and availability of cimetidine in liver cirrhotic patients.

1 The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cimetidine were studied after 200 mg oral and intravenous doses in 14 patients with liver cirrhosis, and results were compared to a control group of 12 ulcer patients. 2 In cirrhotic patients, the volume of the central compartment (0.41 +/- 0.06 v 0.19 +/- 0.09 1/kg) and the volume of distribution at steady-state (1.02 +/- 0.17 v 0.80 +/- 0.24 1/kg) were significantly increased. No differences were observed in the area volume of distribution, the total systemic plasma clearance and renal clearance. The non-renal clearance was significantly decreased from 191 +/- 46 to 123 +/- 102 ml/min. 3 The bioavailability of cimetidine (area method) was significantly increased from 60 +/- 23% to 77 /+- 18% in the cirrhotic patients. Also increased was the time during which plasma levels exceeded 0.5 microgram/ml. 4 Urinary excretion of cimetidine was increased in liver cirrhosis by 32% after intravenous and by 36% after oral administration, while the amount of the sulphoxide metabolite decreased accordingly. Creatinine clearance in the cirrhotic patients was highly correlated with the renal clearance of cimetidine as well as its total plasma clearance.     

Disposition of azapropazone in chronic renal and hepatic failure

Summary The disposition of azapropazone 600 mg i.v. was investigated in 6 healthy subjects, 13 patients with cirrhosis and 8 patients with renal failure. In healthy subjects the elimination half-life was 12.2±2.1 h (mean ± SD), the volume of distribution 10.6±3.31 and the total clearance was 597±135 ml·h^–1. Renal clearance accounted for about 62% of the total clearance. The free fraction of azapropazone in the plasma was 0.0045±0.0006. The patients with cirrhosis were divided into Group I with modest and Group II with severe impairment of liver function. In Group I the total clearance of azapropazone was not significantly different from that in healthy subjects. There was a 2.5-fold increase in its free fraction in plasma, and a reduction in the free drug clearance to about half that in healthy subjects. In Group II patients total clearance was reduced to about 20% of normal. This was partly due to reduced non-renal clearance but mainly to impaired renal clearance of azapropazone. The diminished renal clearance was considered at least in part to represent a drug-induced impairment of renal function, as there was a concomitant reduction in creatinine clearance. The free fraction of azapropazone in the plasma was markedly enhanced (>0.02), and simultaneously, free drug clearance was drastically reduced, to about 2% of that in healthy subjects. In patients with renal failure the total clearance was diminished, depending on the degree of impairment of kidney function. Anephric patients were estimated to have about one third of the total clearance in normal subjects. The free fraction of azapropazone in the plasma was increased in 4 of the 8 patients. It is concluded that patients with cirrhosis and modest impairment of liver function may require about half the normal dose of azapropazone, since free drug clearance is reduced by about 50%. Patients with severe impairment of liver function are expected to be highly susceptible to dose-related side effects, since the pronounced increase in the free fraction in plasma and the decreases in renal and non-renal clearance lead to marked reduction in free drug clearance and so to accumulation of free drug in the body. In patients with renal failure the dose of azapropazone should be reduced according to the degree of impairment of kidney function and plasma protein binding of the drug.     

Clinical pharmacokinetics of the nifedipine/co-dergocrine combination in impaired liver and renal function.

Following a single oral dose of 20 mg nifedipine combined with 2 mg co-dergocrine to 24 subjects, the pharmacokinetics of this drug were studied. 8 normotensive subjects had normal renal and hepatic function, 8 patients had chronic renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance less than 30 ml.min-1) and 8 patients had liver cirrhosis which was confirmed by liver biopsy. The area under the plasma level time curve (AUC infinity) of co-dergocrine increased from 0.59 +/- 0.41 ng.ml-1. (mean +/- SD) in the normals to 1.24 +/- 0.95 ng.ml-1.h in liver cirrhosis (P less than 0.05) and to 1.81 +/- 0.9 ng.ml-1.h in renal failure (P less than 0.05 compared with the control group). Corresponding values for the nifedipine AUC infinity were 564.5 +/- 268 ng.ml-1.h, 1547.5 +/- 1134 (P less than 0.05) and 929 +/- 533 ng.ml-1.h (P less than 0.05; gas chromatographic method). The incidence of adverse effects was lower in patients with renal failure than in subjects with normal renal and liver function as well as in those with liver cirrhosis.     

Effect of cimetidine on digoxin disposition in peptic ulcer patients

Summary Cimetidine inhibits the renal tubular secretion of creatinine and digoxin is partly excreted by the same pathway. In order to investigate a possible interaction between the two drugs, a randomized cross-over acute study has been conducted. Six patients with duodenal ulcers were given a single dose of digoxin (Dig) 0.75 mg i.v. with and without oral cimetidine 1200 mg/day. Cimetidine significantly reduced creatinine clearance from 157 to 132 ml/min. There was no significant difference in inulin clearance, 99.2 vs 97.5 ml/min, Dig elimination half life 53.9 vs 56.9 h, apparent volume of distribution 11.3 vs 11.6 l/kg, systemic clearance 2.42 vs 2.35 ml/min/kg, renal clearance 1.48 vs 1.62 ml/min/kg or urinary excretion of digoxin 49.5 vs 51.6% of dose without or with cimetidine. These results suggest that cimetidine does not influence the disposition of digoxin.     

Quinidine disposition in relation to antipyrine elimination and debrisoquine phenotype in alcoholic patients with and without cirrhosis

Single dose disposition of oral quinidine (400 mg sulfate) was studied in a control group of subjects (No. = 6) and in hospitalized alcoholic patients involving one group with (No. = 6) and one group without (No. = 11) hepatic cirrhosis. All subjects also underwent an antipyrine and a debrisoquine test. Patients with cirrhosis had a prolonged elimination half-life (29.5 +/- 5.9 h) and low clearance (24 +/- 7 ml.kg-1.h-1) of antipyrine and also a considerably higher debrisoquine metabolic ratio (18.8 +/- 3.3) than the controls, whereas the alcoholics without cirrhosis had metabolic patterns for these two test compounds comparable to those seen in the controls (antipyrine half-life: 8.8 +/- 1.1 h and 9.8 +/- 2.0 h; debrisoquine metabolic ratio: 3.6 +/- 0.7 and 3.8 +/- 1.2 for alcoholics and controls respectively). In patients with cirrhosis the apparent elimination half-life of quinidine was longer (12.8 +/- 1.8 h) whereas after oral administration clearance of quinidine (15.6 +/- 3.5 l.h-1) and quinidine/3-hydroxyquinidine ratio (9.9 +/- 2.1) were not different from controls (quinidine clearance: 13.45 +/- 1.9 l.h-1; quinidine/3-hydroxyquinidine: 10.3 +/- 2.7). A possible change in distribution patterns of quinidine in cirrhotics may explain these findings.     

Disposition of guanadrel in subjects with normal and impaired renal function

The disposition of a single 25 mg oral dose of guanadrel was evaluated in 22 subjects with various degrees of renal function. The terminal elimination half-life was significantly prolonged in subjects with a creatinine clearance (ClCr) less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (19.2 +/- 16.8 h) compared to 3.7 +/- 1.9 h in subjects with a ClCr greater than 80 mL/min/1.73 m2. Apparent total body clearance (Clp/F) was also progressively lower in the patients with decreased renal function and the decline was significantly correlated with ClCr (Clp/F = 0.0294 + 0.0236 Clcr, r = 0.74, P = 0.002). Renal clearance and apparent nonrenal clearance also declined as creatinine clearance decreased, and both were significantly correlated with the observed ClCr. Apparent volume of distribution averaged 11.5 +/- 8.9 L/kg and did not differ in patients with decreased renal function compared to those with normal renal function. Thus, the disposition of guanadrel is significantly altered in the presence of renal insufficiency and dosage adjustments may be necessary, especially in patients with ClCr less than 50 ml/min.     

Effect of cimetidine on renal function in man.

1 Renal function was studied in nine patients with chronic peptic ulcer before and at repeated intervals during treatment with cimetidine (1.6g daily). 2 Plasma creatinine concentration was significantly increased on the first day after starting cimetidine, and at 3 weeks, but not at 12 weeks. Blood urea concentration was unchanged. 3. Clearances of creatinine 51Cr EDTA and 125I-hippuran were significantly reduced within 6 h of starting cimetidine. Clearances of 51Cr EDTA and 125I-hippuran returned to baseline within 3 weeks, and creatinine clearance within 12 weeks. 4 Urinary creatine excretion was significantly increased at 3 weeks, but there was no significant change in urinary creatinine excretion, or in serum creatine phosphokinase concentration. 5. These observations suggest that cimetidine causes an early but short-lived fall in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow. The later rise in plasma creatinine was unaccompanied by any change in GFR, and may have been due to competition by cimetidine for renal tubular handling. 6 Caution should be exercised when administering cimetidine to patients with pre-existing renal failure.     

Does alpha1-acid glycoprotein reduce the unbound metabolic clearance of disopyramide in patients with renal impairment?

Summary The pharmacokinetics of disopyramide was studied in 15 patients with renal dysfunction (4 with pyelonephritis, 7 with glomerular nephritis and 4 with interstitial nephritis).The elimination rate constant of unbound disopyramide was 0.094 h^–1 and CL_u/f (unbound clearance divided by bioavailability) was 245 ml/min. Both the unbound renal clearance (CL_R) and CL_u/f were highly correlated with the creatinine clearance (CL_CR). The apparent unbound metabolic clearance in the patients was approximately two-fold lower than that previously reported in normal subjects. The estimated unbound metabolic clearance in the renal dysfunction patients showed a significant negative correlation with the ₁-acid glycoprotein (AAG) concentration and only a weak, non-significant correlation with CL_CR.As AAG in the renal dysfunction subjects was increased in comparison with normal values, it is possible that AAG is a factor in the decrease in the apparent unbound metabolic clearance.     

Comparison of bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of cimetidine in subjects with normal and impaired renal function

The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of cimetidine were studied following single oral and intravenous doses in subjects with severely impaired renal function (SIRF) and normal renal function (NRF). Eight subjects with NRF and five patients with SIRF participated. Multiple blood samples were obtained up to 1440 minutes following both doses. Urine was also collected for 24 hours after each dose. The bioavailability of cimetidine was not significantly different between the two groups (78 +/- 15% in patients with SIRF and 62 +/- 17% in the NRF subjects). In subjects with NRF, a mean of 50.4% of the i.v. dose was excreted renally as unchanged drug and the mean serum half-life (t1/2) was 2.00 hours. The mean total body and renal clearances were 710.0 and 370.7 ml/min, respectively. In the SIRF group, a mean of 1.7% of the i.v. dose was excreted renally unchanged, and the mean t1/2 was 12.71 hours. The total body and renal clearances were 147.1 and 2.5 ml/min, respectively. Nonrenal clearance was 62% lower in the subjects with SIRF than in the NRF subjects. There is no significant difference in bioavailability of cimetidine between the patients with NRF and SIRF. The significantly lower nonrenal clearance of the patients with SIRF suggests that cimetidine metabolism may be impaired in uremic patients.