Effect of cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole on risperidone pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic agent used for the treatment of schizophrenia. It is mainly metabolized by human cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 and partly by CYP3A4 to 9-hydroxyrisperidone. Ketoconazole is used as a CYP3A4 inhibitor probe for studying drug-drug interactions. We aim to investigate the effect of ketoconazole on the pharmacokinetics of risperidone in healthy male volunteers. METHODS: An open-label, randomized, two-phase crossover design with a 2-week washout period was performed in 10 healthy male volunteers. The volunteers received a single oral dose of 2mg of risperidone alone or in combination with 200mg of ketoconazole, once daily for 3days. Serial blood samples were collected at specific periods after ingestion of risperidone for a period of 96h. Plasma concentrations of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone were determined using a validated HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry method. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: After pretreatment with ketoconazole, the clearance of risperidone decreased significantly by 34·81±5·10% and the T(1/2) of risperidone increased significantly by 28·03±40·60%. The AUC(0-96) and AUC(0-∞) of risperidone increased significantly by 66·61± 43·03% and 66·54±39·76%, respectively. The Vd/f of risperidone increased significantly by 39·79±53·59%. However, the C(max) and T(max) of risperidone were not significantly changed, indicating that ketoconazole had minimal effect on the absorption of risperidone. The C(max) , T(max) and T(1/2) of 9-hydroxyrisperidone did not decrease significantly. However, the Cl/f of 9-hydroxyrisperidone increased significantly by 135·07± 124·68%, and the Vd/f of 9-hydroxyrisperidone decreased significantly by 29·47±54·64%. These changes led to a corresponding significant decrease in the AUC(0-96) and AUC(0-∞) of 9-hydroxyrisperidone by 47·76±22·39% and 48·49± 20·03%, respectively. Ketoconazole significantly inhibited the metabolism of risperidone through the inhibition of hepatic CYP3A4. our results suggest that besides CYP2D6, CYP3A4 contributes significantly to the metabolism of risperidone. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics of risperidone was affected by the concomitant administration of ketoconazole. If a CYP3A4 inhibitor is used concomitantly with risperidone, it is necessary for the clinicians to monitor their patients for signs of adverse drug reactions.

Bioequivalence study of a generic quetiapine in healthy male volunteers.

AIM: To study the bioequivalence of a generic quetiapine (Quantia 200, manufactured by the Unison Laboratories Co., Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand) and the innovator product (Seroquel, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK). VOLUNTEERS AND METHODS: The study was a randomized, 2-way crossover design with a 2-week washout period in 24 healthy Thai male volunteers. After a single 200 mg oral dosing, serial blood samples were collected at appropriate interval up to 48 h. Plasma quetiapine concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using the WinNonlin software with noncompartment model analysis. Comparative bioequivalence between the two formulations was determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for 2-way crossover design. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD of maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 - 48 h (AUC0-48) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to infinity (AUC0-inf) of Quantia 200 vs. Seroquel were 886.60 +/- 356.50 vs. 811.34 +/- 323.37 ng/ml; 3,754.41 +/- 1,453.00 vs. 3,420.00 +/- 1,229.6 ng x h/ml and 4,015.35 +/- 1,528.25 vs. 3,769.45 +/- 1,296.69 ng x h/ml, respectively. Time to reach Cmax (tmax) of Quantia 200 and Seroquel were 1.08 +/- 0.778 and 1.10 +/- 0.79 h, respectively, and thus not significantly different. The 90% confidence interval of the ratios of the logarithmically transformed of Cmax, AUC0-48 and AUC0-inf were 98.21 - 124.37%, 94.43 - 117.03% and 94.77 - 116.61%, respectively, which were within the acceptable range of 80 - 125%. Power of the test for Cmax, AUC0-48 and AUC0-inf was 92.1%, 96.9% and 97.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Quantia 200, used in this study, was bioequivalent to Seroquel in terms of both the rate and extent of absorption.

Pharmacokinetic interaction between ketoconazole and praziquantel in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Praziquantel, a broad-spectrum anthelminthic, has been reported to undergo extensive first-pass metabolism by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in vivo. Ketoconazole, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, is known to markedly increase plasma concentrations of many co-administered drugs. However, no data are available on the potential pharmacokinetic drug interaction between ketoconazole and praziquantel in humans. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential pharmacokinetic interaction of ketoconazole with praziquantel in healthy adult Thai male volunteers. METHODS: In an open-label, randomized two-phase crossover study, separated by a 2-week period, 10 healthy adult Thai male volunteers ingested a single dose of 20 mg/kg praziquantel alone or with co-administration of 400-mg ketoconazole orally daily for 5 days. Venous blood samples were collected at specific times for a 24-h period. Plasma concentrations of praziquantel were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. A non-compartmental model was applied for pharmacokinetic parameter analysis of praziquantel. RESULTS: Concurrent administration of ketoconazole with praziquantel significantly increased the mean area under the curve from time zero to infinity (AUC(0-alpha)) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of praziquantel by 93% (955.94 +/- 307.74 vs. 1843.10 +/- 336.39 ng h/mL; P < 0.01) and 102% (183.38 +/- 43.90 vs. 371.31 +/- 44.63 ng/mL; P < 0.01), respectively, whereas the mean total clearance (Cl/F) of praziquantel was significantly decreased by 58% (2.65 +/- 0.64 vs. 1.11 +/- 0.35 mL/h/kg; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Ketoconazole co-administration alters the pharmacokinetics of praziquantel in humans, possibly through inhibition of CYP3A, particularly CYP3A4, first-pass metabolism of praziquantel. Our data suggest that when praziquantel is co-administered with ketoconazole, the dose of praziquantel could be reduced to half the standard dose of praziquantel to reduce the cost of therapy.

Rifampin, a cytochrome P450 3A inducer, decreases plasma concentrations of antipsychotic risperidone in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Although cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 is often thought to be the only CYP responsible for the metabolism of risperidone, many reports suggest that CYP3A may be involved too. Rifampin, a potent CYP3A inducer, has been known to markedly decrease plasma concentrations of various drugs, which are concomitantly administered during treatment. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of rifampin on plasma concentrations of a single oral dose of risperidone in healthy Thai male volunteers. METHODS: In an open, randomized two-phase crossover study, separated by a 2-week period, 10 healthy Thai male volunteers received a single oral dose of 4-mg risperidone alone or with 600 mg rifampin, orally once daily for 5 days. Serial blood samples were collected at specific time points for a 48-h period. Risperidone was measured in plasma using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by using non-compartmental analysis. RESULTS: Co-administration with 600-mg rifampin once daily for 5 days was associated with a significant decrease in risperidone area under the curve (AUC(0-48)) and maximal concentration (C(max)) by 72% (157 x 49 +/- 48 x 80 vs. 42 x 66 +/- 7 x 81 ng/L/h; P<0 x 01) and 50% (32 x 44 +/- 6 x 05 vs. 16 x 16 +/- 2 x 73 ng/mL; P<0 x 05), respectively when compared with risperidone alone. CONCLUSIONS: Rifampin when used concurrently with risperidone significantly decreases the plasma concentration of risperidone. Our results provide in vivo evidence of the involvement of CYP3A in the metabolism of risperidone, in addition to CYP2D6. Thus, co-administration of risperidone with CYP3A inducer(s), including rifampin should be recognized or avoided in clinical practice.

Clinical drug interactions in outpatients of a university hospital in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: A clinical event is likely to occur in patients receiving a pair of drugs, that have the potential to cause an interaction. The occurrence of a clinical drug-drug interaction in outpatients of university hospitals in Thailand is unknown. PURPOSE: To investigate the occurrence of a clinical event associated with drug-drug interactions in outpatients at a Thai university hospital. METHODS: A case-control study was established. The case was a sample group, randomly selected from a 1-year sample of outpatient prescriptions containing 'significance-1' potential drug-drug interactions, whereas the control was from the same year but with no potential drug interactions. Medical records of the cases and the controls were reviewed for an adverse event (AE) using a newly developed review form. The odds ratio of occurrence of the AE between the cases and the controls was determined. The AE was assessed for its possibility of being caused from a drug-drug interaction. RESULTS: The most common specific AE in both the cases and the controls was cough. An unplanned revisit to outpatient department or emergency room was found to be the most common general AE. The odds ratio of the occurrence of an AE in the cases, compared with the controls, was 1.495 (95% CI: 0.917-2.438). The possibility that the AEs resulted from drug interactions in the case group was nine 'probable' patients and 15 'possible' patients, whereas that in the control group was eight 'possible' patients. The most common interacting drug pair was isoniazid-rifampin with an increase in serum hepatic enzymes as the corresponding AE. CONCLUSIONS: Despite outpatients receiving drug pairs with a high potential for adverse interactions, the rate of occurrence of clinical drug interaction events was low.

Ketoconazole increases plasma concentrations of antimalarial mefloquine in healthy human volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Antimalarial mefloquine has a structure related to quinine. The major metabolite of quinine is 3-hydroxyquinine formed by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Ketoconazole, a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4, is known to markedly increase plasma concentrations of various co-administered drugs including quinine. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of ketoconazole on plasma concentrations of mefloquine in healthy Thai male volunteers. METHODS: In an open, randomized two-phase crossover study separated by a 1-month period, eight healthy Thai male volunteers received a single oral dose of 500 mg mefloquine alone or co-administration with 400 mg/day ketoconazole orally for 10 days. Serial blood samples were collected at specific time points for a 56-day period. Plasma mefloquine and mefloquine carboxylic metabolite concentrations during 56 days were measured by a modified and validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection. RESULTS: Co-administration with ketoconazole markedly increased the mean values of mefloquine AUC0-t, t(1/2), and Cmax when compared with mefloquine alone by 79% (P < 0.001), 39% (P < 0.05) and 64% (P < 0.001) respectively. The AUC0-t , and Cmax of mefloquine carboxylic acid metabolite were decreased by 28% (P < 0.05) and 31% (P < 0.05), respectively when compared with mefloquine alone. CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration with ketoconazole increased plasma mefloquine concentrations in healthy human volunteers. One of possible mechanisms of the increase in plasma mefloquine concentrations may be the result of the inhibition of CYP3A4 by ketoconazole. In case of mefloquine is co-administered with ketoconazole, drug-drug interactions should be recognized and the dose of mefloquine should be adjusted to maximize the therapeutic efficacy and to reduce the cost of therapy.

Effect of rifampin on plasma concentrations of mefloquine in healthy volunteers.

Mefloquine is a 4-quinolinemethanol compound structurally related to quinine. Quinine is mainly metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A4 isozyme (CYP3A4), whereas rifampin, a potent inducer of CYP3A4, is known to markedly decrease plasma quinine concentration. Our aim was to study the effect of rifampin on the pharmacokinetics of mefloquine, and explore a possible role of CYP3A4 on mefloquine metabolism. In an open, two-phase crossover study, seven healthy Thai male volunteers received a single oral dose of 500 mg mefloquine alone, or 500 mg mefloquine plus a long-term administration of 600 mg rifampin. Blood samples were collected at specific time points over a 56-day period. Plasma mefloquine and its carboxylic acid metabolite were measured by HPLC for pharmacokinetic analysis. The results indicate that rifampin significantly decreased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0 - infinity) of mefloquine by 68% (P < 0.01), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) by 19% (P < 0.001), and elimination half-life (t1/2) by 63% (P < 0.01), whereas the time to reach Cmax (t(max)) of mefloquine was unaffected. The apparent oral clearance (CL) of mefloquine was significantly increased by 281% (P < 0.01). After administration of rifampin, the Cmax of the carboxylic acid metabolite of mefloquine was significantly increased by 47% (P < 0.05), whereas the t1/2 was significantly decreased by 39% (P < 0.01), and t(max) by 76% (P < 0.01). The AUC0 - infinity and CL of the mefloquine metabolite were increased by 30% and 25%, respectively, but were not significantly different from the control phase. The results indicate that rifampin reduces the plasma concentration of a single oral dose of 500 mg mefloquine by increasing metabolism of mefloquine in the liver and gut wall. The CYP3A4 isozyme most likely plays an important role in the enhanced metabolism of mefloquine. Simultaneous use of rifampin and mefloquine should be avoided to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of mefloquine and prevent the risk of Plasmodium falciparum resistance in malarial treatment.