Effect of cimetidine and ranitidine on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a single dose of dofetilide

AIMS: The aim of this open-label, placebo-controlled, randomized, four-period crossover study was to determine the effects of cimetidine and ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a single dose of dofetilide. METHODS: Twenty healthy male subjects received 100 or 400 mg twice daily of cimetidine, 150 mg twice daily of ranitidine, or placebo for 4 days. On the second day, a single oral 500 microg dose of dofetilide was administered immediately after the morning doses of cimetidine, ranitidine, or placebo. Treatment periods were separated by 1-2 weeks. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined from plasma and urinary dofetilide concentrations; prolongation of the QTc interval was determined from three-lead electrocardiograms. RESULTS: Ranitidine did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of dofetilide; however, a dose-dependent increase in exposure to dofetilide was observed with cimetidine. When dofetilide was administered with 100 and 400 mg of cimetidine, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of dofetilide increased by 11% and 48% and the maximum plasma dofetilide concentration increased by 11% and 29%, respectively. The respective cimetidine doses reduced renal clearance of dofetilide by 13% and 33% and nonrenal clearance by 5% and 21%. Dofetilide-induced prolongation of the QTc interval was enhanced by cimetidine; the mean maximum change in QTc interval from baseline was increased by 22% and 33% with 100 and 400 mg of cimetidine, respectively. However, the relationship between the prolongation of the QTc interval and plasma dofetilide concentrations was unaffected by cimetidine or ranitidine; a 1 ng ml-1 increase in plasma dofetilide concentration produced a 17-19 ms prolongation of the QTc interval. Dofetilide was well tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse events or laboratory abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cimetidine increased dofetilide exposure by inhibiting renal tubular dofetilide secretion, whereas ranitidine did not. This effect is not an H2-receptor antagonist class effect but is specific to cimetidine. If therapy with an H2-receptor antagonist is required, it is recommended that cimetidine at all doses be avoided; since ranitidine has no effect on dofetilide pharmacokinetics or prolongation of the QTc interval, it can be seen as a suitable alternative.     

Effect of duration of lidocaine infusion and route of cimetidine administration on lidocaine pharmacokinetics

The effects of the duration of lidocaine infusion and the route of cimetidine administration on lidocaine pharmacokinetics were evaluated in a randomized, three-phase crossover study of six healthy men. Lidocaine hydrochloride 100 mg was administered intravenously over two minutes, and plasma lidocaine concentrations were determined before treatment and at various intervals for three hours. Immediately after the three-hour sample was obtained, a second 100-mg dose of lidocaine hydrochloride was given, followed by a 21-hour constant infusion at a rate of 2 mg/min. Plasma lidocaine concentrations were determined at various intervals during the infusion and for eight hours afterward. Urine was collected during the last five hours of the infusion and assayed for lidocaine, monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX), and glycinexylidide (GX). The following treatments were administered to each subject in a crossover manner: a placebo tablet every six hours, beginning two days before lidocaine administration; cimetidine 300 mg orally every six hours, beginning two days before lidocaine administration; and cimetidine hydrochloride 300 mg i.v. every six hours, beginning one hour before lidocaine administration. Each medication was given until the lidocaine infusion was discontinued. Subjects fasted and remained supine throughout each treatment period. Oral cimetidine increased the area under the concentration-time curve for lidocaine by 14.7% and increased the elimination half-life of lidocaine; i.v. cimetidine did not have a significant effect on lidocaine disposition. Lidocaine clearance was 34% lower under steady-state than single-dose conditions, but the effects of cimetidine on lidocaine disposition were similar under both conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of study protocol on the interactions between cimetidine and paracetamol in man.

The influence of cimetidine (400 mg) on the salivary pharmacokinetics of oral paracetamol (1 g) was studied in 8 healthy subjects under two protocols--concomitant and delayed administration of cimetidine. There were no significant changes in the salivary pharmacokinetics of paracetamol when the two drugs were concomitantly administered (P > 0.100). Delayed administration of paracetamol 1 h after cimetidine, on the other hand, was associated with significant changes as compared to control. The peak salivary concentration (Cmax) and absorption rate constant (Kab) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), while the time to peak concentration (Tmax), absorption half-life constant (t1/2ab) and lag time were all significantly increased (P < 0.05). Elimination half-life (t1/2el) was also significantly increased (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that cimetidine does not affect the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol when the two drugs were concomitantly administered but impaired the absorption of paracetamol when the administration of the latter was delayed by 1 h after cimetidine. The therapeutic implication of this interaction is that the efficacy of paracetamol may be affected.     

Review of lidocaine patch 5% studies in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic pain syndrome that disproportionately affects the elderly; its incidence is anticipated to increase as the population ages. PHN presents as pain (continuous burning or intense paroxysmal), most often with tactile allodynia, which may be severe and disabling, resulting in poor quality of life and depression. Traditional treatments have included tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants and opioids; however, adverse systemic effects associated with these agents have led to the development of a newer and potentially safer agent, the topical lidocaine patch 5% (Lidoderm), a targeted peripheral analgesic.This article reviews the clinical pharmacology of the lidocaine patch 5% for the treatment of PHN and summarises data from clinical trials of its safety, tolerability and efficacy. The Medline search terms "lidocaine" and "patch" were used to search for English-language articles on the pharmacokinetics of the lidocaine patch 5% and its clinical use for the treatment of PHN. Additional published studies not identified by the database search but performed by the authors or their colleagues were also included in the review.The systemic absorption of lidocaine from the patch was minimal in healthy adults when four patches were applied for up to 24 hours/day, and lidocaine absorption was even lower among PHN patients than healthy adults at the currently recommended dose. Vehicle-controlled and open-label trials found the lidocaine patch 5%, either alone or in combination with other agents, to be effective in the treatment of PHN. Most adverse events were at patch application sites; no clinically significant systemic adverse effects were noted, including when used long term or in an elderly population.In patients with PHN, the lidocaine patch 5% has demonstrated relief of pain and tactile allodynia with a minimal risk of systemic adverse effects or drug-drug interactions. Because of its proven efficacy and safety profile, the lidocaine patch 5% has been recommended as a first-line therapy for the treatment of the neuropathic pain of PHN.     

Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and electrocardiographic pharmacodynamics of loratadine with concomitant administration of ketoconazole or cimetidine

AIMS: To evaluate whether ketoconazole or cimetidine alter the pharmacokinetics of loratadine, or its major metabolite, desloratadine (DCL), or alter the effects of loratadine or DCL on electrocardiographic repolarization in healthy adult volunteers. METHODS: Two randomized, evaluator-blind, multiple-dose, three-way crossover drug interaction studies were performed. In each study, subjects received three 10 day treatments in random sequence, separated by a 14 day washout period. The treatments were loratadine alone, cimetidine or ketoconazole alone, or loratadine plus cimetidine or ketoconazole. The primary study endpoint was the difference in mean QTc intervals from baseline to day 10. In addition, plasma concentrations of loratadine, DCL, and ketoconazole or cimetidine were obtained on day 10. RESULTS: Concomitant administration of loratadine and ketoconazole significantly increased the loratadine plasma concentrations (307%; 90% CI 205-428%) and DCL concentrations (73%; 62-85%) compared with administration of loratadine alone. Concomitant administration of loratadine and cimetidine significantly increased the loratadine plasma concentrations (103% increase; 70-142%) but not DCL concentrations (6% increase; 1-11%) compared with administration of loratadine alone. Cimetidine or ketoconazole plasma concentrations were unaffected by coadministration with loratadine. Despite increased concentrations of loratadine and DCL, there were no statistically significant differences for the primary electrocardiographic repolarization parameter (QTc) among any of the treatment groups. No other clinically relevant changes in the safety profile of loratadine were observed as assessed by electrocardiographic parameters (mean (90% CI) QTc changes: loratadine vs loratadine + ketoconazole = 3.6 ms (-2.2, 9.4); loratadine vs loratadine + cimetidine = 3.2 ms (-1.6, 7.9)), clinical laboratory tests, vital signs, and adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Loratadine 10 mg daily was devoid of any effects on electrocardiographic parameters when coadministered for 10 days with therapeutic doses of ketoconazole or cimetidine in healthy volunteers. It is concluded that, although there was a significant pharmacokinetic drug interaction between ketoconazole or cimetidine and loratadine, this effect was not accompanied by a change in the QTc interval in healthy adult volunteers.     

Serum concentrations of local anaesthetics following intraperitoneal administration during laparoscopy

Summary The present study is a comparison of the pharmacokinetics of four local anaesthetics injected double blind in the right subdiaphragmatic area during outpatient laparoscopy performed under standard general anaesthesia in 28 young women. 80 ml of one of the following solutions was injected: Group A 0.5% plain lidocaine (n=7), Group B 0.5% lidocaine with 1/320.000 adrenaline (n=8), Group C 0.5% lidocaine with 1/800.000 adrenaline (n=7), and Group D 0.125% bupivacaine with 1/800.000 adrenaline (n=6). Blood samples were collected over 360 min from an iv catheter and serum concentrations were measured by gas chromatography.No adverse effects occurred in the study period. In Group A (plain lidocaine), C_max was significantly higher and t_max significantly earlier than in Groups B and C (lidocaine with adrenaline). A toxic level was not found after either solution in any patient.The intraperitoneal use of doses of 400 mg lidocaine or 100 mg bupivacaine for perioperative analgesia was safe and solutions of lidocaine containing adrenaline appeared to pose even less risk than plain solutions.Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Las Vegas, October 1990     

The effect of multiple doses of cimetidine on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of quetiapine in men with selected psychotic disorders

Quetiapine fumarate (Seroquel) is an atypical antipsychotic agent approved for the treatment of psychosis. It is extensively metabolized by the CYP450 3A4 isozyme. The principal aim of the study was to investigate the effect of multiple doses of cimetidine, a nonspecific P450 inhibitor, on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of quetiapine. Thirteen patients (seven completers) with selected psychotic disorders received escalating doses of quetiapine from 25 to 150 mg three times daily on days 3 to 8 and were then maintained at 150 mg three times daily until day 19. Cimetidine (400 mg) was initiated on the afternoon of day 15 and administered three times daily with every dose of quetiapine thereafter. Quetiapine plasma concentrations were measured before and after cimetidine coadministration, and quetiapine pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Of the 13 men who entered the study, seven completed it. A slight increase in quetiapine plasma levels and reduction in oral clearance were observed after cimetidine coadministration. No serious adverse events were observed during quetiapine treatment. No clinically relevant alterations in quetiapine pharmacokinetics were observed after cimetidine coadministration in patients with psychotic disorders.     

Comparison of the Effects of Cimetidine and Ranitidine on the Pharmacokinetics of Disopyramide in Man

The widely prescribed antiulcer agents cimetidine and ranitidine have the potential to affect the absorption, metabolism or renal excretion of disopyramide. This study investigated the effect of a single oral dose of cimetidine or ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics of disopyramide and mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide in six healthy volunteers. The treatment was conducted in a randomized cross-over design. Serum levels and urinary recoveries of disopyramide and mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide were assayed by HPLC. Cimetidine significantly elevated the maximum plasma concentration of disopyramide, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve and the total amount of disopyramide excreted unchanged in the urine, but the serum profile of mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide was not significantly affected. The effects of ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics of disopyramide and mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide were not significant. The interaction between cimetidine and disopyramide occurred mainly at the site of absorption. The results indicate that cimetidine, but not ranitidine, significantly increased the absorption of orally administered disopyramide.     

Pharmacokinetics and safety of continuously applied lidocaine patches 5%.

The pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of four topical lidocaine patches 5% continuously applied for 72 hours and changed every 12 or 24 hours were examined. In this randomized, prospective, multiple-dose, open-label pharmacokinetic study, lidocaine patches were applied to healthy men and women for three consecutive days. Ten subjects received four lidocaine patches every 24 hours (group 1), and 10 subjects received four patches every 12 hours (group 2). Serial samples of venous blood were obtained to determine pharmacokinetic data. Overall tolerability and safety were assessed, and skin sensory testing was conducted to determine whether local anesthetic activity was produced. The mean maximum plasma lidocaine concentrations at steady state with lidocaine patches applied in groups 1 and 2 were 186 and 225 ng/mL, respectively, compared with the reported mean maximum plasma concentration of 130 ng/ml. with the labeled dosage (12 hr/day). The area under the concentration-time curve for one dosage interval at steady state was 3550 and 4506 ng.hr/mL for groups 1 and 2, respectively. No loss in sensation at the application site was reported. No patient had edema, and most cases of erythema were very slight. No systemic adverse events were judged to be related to the patches. Continuous application for 72 hours of four lidocaine patches 5%, changed every 12 or 24 hours, produced plasma lidocaine concentrations that remained well below those that typically produce antiarrhythmic effects or toxicity. Mild application-site erythema occurred in most patients, but no systemic adverse reactions were judged to be related to the patches. No loss in sensation at the application site was reported.     

Pharmacokinetic profile of loprazolam in 12 young and 12 elderly healthy volunteers

The aim of the study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile of acute and steady state doses of loprazolam (1 mg) following nighttime administration in 12 young (18-30 years) and 12 elderly (60-80 years) nonfasting subjects. Loprazolam blood plasma concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorption detection. The drug was isolated from the plasma using a solid phase extraction procedure. On day 1 subjects were breathalyzer and given a brief medical examination. Baseline blood samples (10 ml) were taken via a venous cannula at -1.5 to -0.25 h prior to drug administration. Loprazolam was administered at 21.00 and further blood samples were taken at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18 and 23.5 h (baseline sample for day 2). On subsequent days (days 2, 3 and 4) blood samples were taken at -0.5 and 2 h. The schedule for day 1 was repeated for day 5 with the test period ending at 21.30 on day 6. Significant changes in the pharmacokinetics of the drug were evident in the elderly volunteers compared with the young volunteers following steady state, where tmax was significantly prolonged (CI 90% = 0.80 to 1.25; p < 0.00006) and a decline was observed in peak plasma concentration (CI 90% = 0.80 to 1.25; p < 0.00006). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in either the elimination half-life of the drug or the area under the curve. Loprazolam appears to be well tolerated by both the young and the elderly and only mild adverse effects were reported after nighttime administration. These results provide valuable data on the pharmacokinetics of the drug in normal clinical practice.     

The effect of cimetidine on the pharmacokinetics of salicylic acid

The pharmacokinetics of the interaction between salicylic acid and cimetidine was investigated in 11 healthy male and female volunteers. The plasma concentrations of total and free salicylic acid were measured. The kinetic disposition of salicylic acid after multiple administration of cimetidine (1 g per day) showed two modifications: the elimination rate was slower and plasma clearance was reduced. The corresponding area under concentration-time curves was always significantly greater. These differences were the same in both sexes. The rate of absorption, peak salicylate concentration and plasma protein binding of salicylic acid in the presence of cimetidine were not changed.     

Pharmacokinetics of the Aldose Reductase Inhibitor Imirestat Following Topical Ocular Administration

The pharmacokinetics of imirestat following topical ocular administration were evaluated in a series of studies in rabbits and dogs. Following single topical doses to both albino and pigmented rabbits, imirestat was subject to rapid uptake into the cornea followed by an initial rapid decline and then very slow elimination, with a t _1/2 of approximately 130 hr. Drug was rapidly absorbed into aqueous humor, with concentrations declining to nondetectable levels by 12 hr. Imirestat was retained in the lens following topical dosing similar to that in cornea, with an apparent elimination t _1/2 of 140 hr. Vitreous humor concentrations of drug were detectable for up to 72 hr after dosing. There was no apparent difference in the disposition of the drug between albino and pigmented rabbits. Bioavailability following topical dosing increased with dose, although not in a linear fashion. Formulation pH did not have an appreciable effect on ocular bioavailability. There was detectable systemic absorption following topical dosing, with plasma concentrations in rabbit being 50 to 75% of that observed following an equivalent intravenous dose. However, drug levels in the dosed eyes were significantly higher than in contralateral undosed eyes. Multiple dosing of imirestat for 6 weeks resulted in accumulation of drug in rabbit lens. Concentrations were higher in lens cortex than lens nucleus, with the time course for accumulation being different for the two. Our data suggest that imirestat penetrates into ocular tissue following topical dosing and is retained in lens and cornea, potential sites of action for the drug.     

Pharmacokinetics of CM 57755, a new histamine H2-receptor antagonist, after single oral doses in man

The plasma pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of CM 57755, an H2-receptor antagonist, were studied after administration of single oral doses in a range between a 100 and 700 mg in human volunteers. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated model-independent. Absorption of CM 57755 was bimodal and the maximum plasma concentration was reached between 2 and 4 h after dosing. The drug was widely distributed with an apparent volume of distribution between 140 and 200 l. The plasma clearance was between 56 and 69 L/h. The plasma concentrations declined following a monoexponential function with an elimination half-life of 2 h. No modification in the plasma clearance or other pharmacokinetic parameters with these doses was observed. Therefore, a linear pharmacokinetic profile of CM 57755 was proposed. About 40% of the parent drug was unchanged in urine excreted over the 24 h. The drug was compared with cimetidine and ranitidine, the three compounds seemed to exhibit a consistent pharmacokinetic profile.     

Effect of bupropion on cimetidine and ranitidine absorption in rats

Cimetidine and ranitidine absorption were studied in rats, alone or in combination with concurrent but separate bupropion oral administration. Blood samples were collected before and 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 h after dosing. In ranitidine-treated rats, an extra blood sample at 8 h was collected. Assays of cimetidine and ranitidine were carried out using a HPLC method. Mean cimetidine plasma concentrations on concurrent bupropion administration at 0.25 and 0.5 h were approximately 2 and 1.5 times compared to the control. Similarly, mean ranitidine plasma concentrations with bupropion combination at 0.25 and 0.5 h were significantly different and approximately 2 and 3 times higher. Time of maximum concentration for cimetidine and ranitidine on combination were reduced to almost half of the control value. However, only the time of maximum concentration for cimetidine showed statistically significant difference. No significant differences were observed between AUCs, maximum concentrations, and half-lives of cimetidine and ranitidine compared to their respective controls. The results suggest that concurrent bupropion administration may affect the rate but not the extent of absorption of cimetidine and ranitidine.     

Seizures following oral lidocaine for esophageal anesthesia

Lidocaine is absorbed from mucous membranes of the oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and tracheobronchial tree. First-pass hepatic metabolism of the drug greatly reduces the amount reaching the general systemic circulation in the normal individual. In patients whose hepatic metabolism is reduced by disease or drugs, or in whom liver blood flow is reduced, this first-pass effect is decreased and lidocaine concentrations may be higher than those produced by the same dose in normal patients. We report an elderly man taking cimetidine with congestive heart failure in whom the accidental ingestion of lidocaine solution for esophageal anesthesia was followed by seizures and elevated serum lidocaine concentrations.     

Ocular pharmacokinetics of thiamphenicol in rabbits.

The ocular pharmacokinetics of thiamphenicol (TAP, CAS 15318-45-3) was studied in rabbits by means of the assessment of its ocular and systemic absorption, and urinary excretion after instillation of 0.5% TAP eye drops. TAP concentrations in aqueous humor, plasma and urine were evaluated by a coupled LC/GC method (detection limit = 0.1 ng/ml), because the necessity to have a technique much more sensitive than the traditional chromatographic ones available in order to quantify the very low drug concentrations in biological fluids produced by the ocular treatment, and generally by a topical administration. The intravenous route was chosen as reference and allowed the absolute bioavailability to be estimated. TAP proved to be well absorbed through the cornea with the peak aqueous humor concentration of 110 ng/ml at 45 min following the instillation. The good ocular absorption of TAP was confirmed by the plasma concentrations observed after instillation of 0.5% eye drops. In any case, these concentrations were more than 1000 times lower than those observed after the intravenous treatment at the dose normally used for infectious diseases, allowing to exclude any systemic toxicity of TAP eye drops. The absolute ocular bioavailability was 16.2% when estimated from the AUC values and 34.0% from the cumulative urinary excretion values.     

Effect of aging on hepatic elimination of cimetidine and subsequent interaction of aging and cimetidine on aminopyrine metabolism

Aging and cimetidine may each impair hepatic microsomal drug metabolism. To test if and by what mechanisms advanced age may increase sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of cimetidine, the interaction of these two factors with aminopyrine metabolism in the rat was studied using a correlative approach. Initial studies using the aminopyrine breath test indicated that a 40 mg/kg dose of cimetidine, i.p., impaired the 14CO2 exhaled by up to 76% more in aged (26-month) than in young (3- to 4-month-old) rats. Using an isolated liver perfusion to dissect out hepatic components of this phenomenon, it was found that various doses of cimetidine impaired aminopyrine clearance to a greater degree (P less than 0.05) in aged than in young livers. However, cimetidine metabolism in this system ranged from 36 to 78% less in aged versus young livers (P less than 0.05). Subsequent in vitro studies indicated that microsomes isolated from aged livers also averaged a 76% lower rate of cimetidine metabolism (P less than 0.05). A fixed cimetidine concentration, however, inhibited aminopyrine demethylation to the same degree in aged versus young rats (P less than 0.05). In vivo pharmacokinetics showed an age-related decrease in both aminopyrine and cimetidine systemic clearance. In the young rat the liver contributed about 30% to total systemic clearance of cimetidine. In the aged rat, all clearance was renal. Despite a decrease in glomerular filtration rate, net tubular cimetidine secretion was well-maintained. Despite this, absence of the hepatic component resulted in decreased overall systemic clearance of the drug in aged rats. It is concluded that (1) the aged rat liver exhibits impaired cimetidine metabolism, resulting in decreased overall systemic clearance of the drug despite normal net renal tubular secretion, (2) there is no age-related enhanced sensitivity to cimetidine of the hepatic microsomal oxidizing system using aminopyrine as the probe drug, and (3) the larger inhibition of aminopyrine metabolism in aged rats following various doses of cimetidine is due to decreased overall cimetidine clearance, resulting in higher concentrations of the inhibitor in the liver of aged rats.     

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.     

A dual PPAR alpha/gamma agonist increases adiponectin and improves plasma lipid profiles in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND: The objective of these studies was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of MK-0767, a prototypical dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha/gamma agonist, following administration of single and multiple oral doses in healthy male subjects. METHODS: The first study was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, alternating two-panel, rising dose protocol in which single doses of 1-80 mg of MK-0767 were administered. The second study was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, staggered incremental dose, parallel-group protocol in which multiple doses of 0.3-25 mg of MK-0767 were administered once daily for 14 days. In both studies at each dose level, six subjects received MK-0767 and two subjects received placebo. RESULTS: Plasma area under the concentration-time curve and maximum plasma concentration increased with single and multiple doses of MK-0767 over the dose ranges studied. The apparent terminal half-life of MK-0767 averaged approximately 36 hours following single and multiple doses. Steady-state plasma concentrations were achieved following approximately 8 days of multiple doses. Compared with placebo, MK-0767 produced dose-dependent reductions in triglycerides (-26 +/- 8% [p = 0.002] and -33 +/- 13% [p = 0.008]) and free fatty acids (-50 +/- 11% [p < 0.001] and -67 +/- 23% [p = 0.008]) following single and multiple doses, respectively. Significant (p < or = 0.050) dose-dependent alterations in adiponectin (332 +/- 36%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-29 +/- 5%), total cholesterol (-19 +/- 3%), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-28 +/- 4%), and fasting plasma glucose (-6 +/- 2%; only in the 25 mg group) were observed after multiple doses. CONCLUSIONS: The observed effects of MK-0767 on adiponectin, free fatty acids and lipids, even after single doses, demonstrate that this prototypical dual PPAR alpha/gamma agonist has clinically meaningful activity in vivo.     

Lidocaine plasma concentrations during and after endoscopic procedures.

Plasma lidocaine concentrations were intermittently measured in 8 upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 12 bronchoscopy patients. The highest individual concentration was 0.98 microgram/ml in the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy patients and 3.79 microgram/ml in the bronchoscopy patients. Highest concentrations were reached at 15 minutes in the gastrointestinal endoscopy patients and at 30 or 60 minutes in the bronchoscopy patients. Thus, since lidocaine does not produce toxic effects at concentrations inferior to 6 microgram/ml, doses of this topical anaesthetic up to 16 mg/kg can be safely given during endoscopic procedures to patients with normal hepatic and cardiovascular functions. However, patients with liver metastases should be considered at high risk even if their liver function tests are normal. Patients at high risk of developing lidocaine toxicity should receive lower doses and be closely watched for at least 60 minutes after the end of the procedure.