Controlled delivery of ranitidine in the stomach using magnetic field / Administración controlada de ranitidina en el estómago usando campos magnéticos

An attempt has been made to localize ranitidine loaded microspheres in the stomach by magnetic means. Since ranitidine undergoes metabolism by microbial enzymes in the intestine, it is ideal to localize the controlled drug delivery system within the stomach to get uniform release and absorption of the drug for the desired period. Gelatin magnetic microspheres loaded with 9.1, 17.9, 26.3 and 33.3% w/w of ranitidine hydrochloride were prepared by emulsification-cross linking technique. The formulated microspheres were characterized by magnetite content, particle size and in vitro drug release. The efficiency of microspheres to be localized in the stomach is tested in vivo in rats. The prepared microspheres were spherical and had a size distribution from 10 to 105 µm. The in vitro study revealed the capability of microspheres to release the drug over a period of 8 to 12 hours, depending on drug loading. The release was found to be diffusion controlled and followed fickian diffusion principle. The in vivo study showed the efficiency of microspheres to be retained in the stomach over a period of 8 hours.

Se ha hecho el intento por localizar las microesferas cargadas de ranitidina en el estómago mediante medios magnéticos. Como que la ranitidina experimenta metabolismo mediante enzimas microbianas en el intestino, resulta ideal localizar el sistema de administración del medicamento controlado dentro del estómago para alcanzar la liberación y absorción uniformes del medicamento por el período deseado. Microesferas de gelatina magnética cargadas con 9.1, 17.9, 26.3 y 33.3% p/p de hidrocloruro de ranitidina, fueron preparadas mediante una técnica de emulsificación-entrecruzamiento. Las microesferas formuladas se caracterizaron por su contenido de magnetita, el tamaño de las partículas y la liberación del medicamento in vitro. La eficiencia de las microesferas a ser localizadas en el estómago se prueba in vivo en ratas. Las microesferas preparadas eran esféricas y tenían una distribución de tamaño de 10 a 105 µm. El estudio in vitro reveló la capacidad de las microesferas para liberar la droga en un período de 8 a 12 horas, en dependencia de la carga de la droga. Se halló que la liberación estaba sujeta difusión controlada y seguía la ley de Fick para la difusión. El estudio in vivo mostró la eficiencia de las microesferas para ser retenidas en el estómago por un período de 8 horas.

Theophylline-ranitidine interaction in elderly COPD patients

Most controlled studies in humans indicate that ranitidine does not alter theophylline metabolism, even at high doses. However, there have been several case reports published recently which demostrate the development of theophylline toxicity mostly in older patients receiving stable oral doses of this drug when ranitidine was administered simultaneously. We studied eleven elderly (mean age, 69,0 + or - 6.2 years) patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During one week the patients took slow-release theophylline, 200 mg every 12 h, followed by one week intake of the same dose of theophylline plus ranitidine tables, 150 mg every 12h. At the end of each period, blood samples were obtained 0,1,2,3,4,6,7,8 and 12h after the morning dose for the determination of serum theophylline levels. the peak theophylline concentration was achieved after 4.1 + or - 0.9 h while the patients were taking theophylline, and after 2.9 + or - 1.4 h with the combined regimen. This difference was statistically significant. These results suggest that the reported increases in serum theophylline levels in older patients receiving theophylline and ranitidine cannot be ascribed to slower theophylline metabolism in the geriatric patient with COPD who is also given ranitidine.

Ranitidina: consideraçöes clínicas e farmacológicas / Ranitidine: clinical and pharmacological considerations

Realiza-se uma ampla revisäo bibliográfica sobre a Ranitidina, um novo bloqueador receptores H2 da histamina, com ênfase em suas propriedades farmacológicas e aplicaçöes clínicas