Pharmacokinetics of lamotrigine in paediatric and young adult epileptic patients--nonlinear mixed effects modelling approach.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine and describe adjunctive lamotrigine (LTG) pharmacokinetics in paediatric and young adult patients using a nonlinear mixed effects modelling (NONMEM) approach. METHODS: The study included 53 patients (age range 3-35 years) who were concomitantly treated with carbamazepine (CBZ) and/or valproic acid (VPA). A total of 70 blood samples corresponding to trough levels were available for analysis. Data were modelled, and the final model was evaluated using NONMEM and auxiliary software tools. RESULTS: The final LTG population model included the effects of concomitant drugs and patient's weight (WT) which stratified the population into three groups: ≤25 kg, >25 to <60 kg and ≥60 kg. Based on the final model, the estimated LTG oral clearance (CL/F) for a typical patient weighing ≤25 kg, >25 to <60 kg or ≥60 kg who was concomitantly treated with CBZ was estimated to be 3.28, 4.23, or 7.15 l/h, respectively. If a patient was concomitantly treated with CBZ + VPA, the CL/F decreased on average by 69.5 % relative to LTG + CBZ co-therapy. VPA was found to decrease the LTG CL/F by 87.6 % compared to co-therapy with only CBZ. CONCLUSION: The LTG population pharmacokinetic model developed in this study may be a reliable method for individualising the LTG dosing regimen in paediatric and young adult patients on combination therapy during therapeutic drug monitoring.

Fluoxetine does not impair motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease: correlation between mood and motor functions with plasma concentrations of fluoxetine/norfluoxetine.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most commonly chosen antidepressants in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of our study was to assess the influence of fluoxetine (Flu) on motor functions in patients with PD. METHODS: In this prospective, controlled, open-label study, 18 patients with PD and mild depression [(10 < or = Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) < or = 23)] without dementia [(25 < or = Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)] were treated with Flu. Both single and repeated dose effects of Flu were assessed on days 1-80. Plasma concentrations of Flu and norfluoxetine (NORFlu) were correlated with the results of selected motor function performance scores: The Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Score (UPDRS), Finger Tapping Test (FTT) and Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT). Severity of PD, depression and dementia were evaluated using standard tests [(Hoehn and Yahr stages (HY), activity of daily living (ADL), UPDRS, HDRS, MMSE)]. RESULTS: Steady-state for Flu/NORFlu was reached after 18 days of treatment. Such a plateau correlated with significant improvements in both scores of depression and Parkinson's disability (HDRS, UPDRS and ADL, respectively). In addition, FTT and PPT scores also increased until day 18, with further slight fluctuations around the plateau. Optimal motor performances correlated with Flu concentrations of approximately 60-110 microg/L. CONCLUSION: Flu (20 mg/day) significantly reduced depression in PD patients while it did not impair their motor performances. Because substantial placebo effects may arise in studies of PD and depression, large, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are warranted.

Evaluation of single-point sampling strategies for the estimation of moclobemide exposure in depressive patients.

Because moclobemide pharmacokinetics vary considerably among individuals, monitoring of plasma concentrations lends insight into its pharmacokinetic behavior and enhances its rational use in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether single concentration-time points could adequately predict moclobemide systemic exposure. Pharmacokinetic data (full 7-point pharmacokinetic profiles), obtained from 21 depressive inpatients receiving moclobemide (150 mg 3 times daily), were randomly split into development (n = 18) and validation (n = 16) sets. Correlations between the single concentration-time points and the area under the concentration-time curve within a 6-hour dosing interval at steady-state (AUC(0-6)) were assessed by linear regression analyses. The predictive performance of single-point sampling strategies was evaluated in the validation set by mean prediction error, mean absolute error, and root mean square error. Plasma concentrations in the absorption phase yielded unsatisfactory predictions of moclobemide AUC(0-6). The best estimation of AUC(0-6) was achieved from concentrations at 4 and 6 hours following dosing. As the most reliable surrogate for moclobemide systemic exposure, concentrations at 4 and 6 hours should be used instead of predose trough concentrations as an indicator of between-patient variability and a guide for dose adjustments in specific clinical situations.

The influence of drug-drug interaction and patients' characteristics on valproic acid's clearance in adults with epilepsy using nonlinear mixed effects modeling.

Monitoring valproic acid (VPA) concentrations is especially challenging due to its highly variable pharmacokinetics (PK) and complex interactions with other antiepileptic drugs. We used sparse routine therapeutic drug monitoring data (n=200) from 129 adults with epilepsy to develop a population PK model of VPA, and determine the factors that influence its clearance (CL/F). Patients were on mono VPA therapy, or were concomitantly treated with carbamazepine, phenobarbital, topiramate (TPR), lamotrigine or benzodiazepines. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination was used to fit the concentration-time VPA data. Estimates generated by NONMEM indicated that VPA CL/F was influenced by the patients' body weight (increases with the 0.556 exponent), VPA daily dose (if it is greater than 1000 mg/day, CL/F increases by 43%), and co-therapy with TPR (lowering CL/F for 23%). The interindividual variability in VPA CL/F was modeled with exponentional error model. The estimated coefficient of variation was 31.9%, while the residual variability was 23.8% for the proportional and 13.2mg/l for the additive component. The model was validated in a separate set of 24 patients, and the predictive performance was evaluated, that indicated unbias and acceptable precision. This study confirms the interaction of VPA with TPR, which is presumably dependent on VPA dose.

Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of fluvoxamine and amitriptyline in depression.

Although often necessary for obtaining remission following major depressive disorder, combined antidepressant treatment is frequently associated with drug interactions and enhanced adverse drug effects. We investigated pharmacokinetic interactions following combined fluvoxamine and amitriptyline treatment and their impact on therapeutic efficacy and tolerability. Twenty-two inpatients with major depression [Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) rating > or =18] were treated with either amitriptyline (75 mg/day), fluvoxamine (100 mg/day) or both. Blood samples, for determination of amitriptyline, its major metabolite nortritpyline, and fluvoxamine, were obtained after single dose administration and in steady-state. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated using HAM-D and adverse drug effects were evaluated using the clinical global impression scale. Following combined treatment, steady-state plasma levels of nortriptyline were significantly decreased compared to monotherapy. HAM-D scores after two-week treatment showed that there was a better response to combined treatment. There was no significant difference in severity of adverse effects among groups. We observed a pharmacokinetic interaction between fluvoxamine and amitritpyline resulting in impaired metabolism of the later. However, no significant impact of the interaction on treatment safety was observed. Moreover, concomitant use of amitriptyline at 75 mg/day and fluvoxamine at 100 mg/day was well tolerated with a more prompt and stronger onset of clinical response compared to monotherapy in patients with major depression.

Moclobemide monotherapy vs. combined therapy with valproic acid or carbamazepine in depressive patients: a pharmacokinetic interaction study.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT: Moclobemide (MCB) undergoes extensive both presystemic and systemic metabolism that can be affected by concomitant drugs. Valproic acid (VPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) have been found to interact with psychotropic medications of all classes and many other drugs; VPA acts as a broad-spectrum inhibitor, and CBZ as a potent inducer of a variety of drug-metabolizing enzymes. There have been no previous studies designed to investigate a potential pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction between MCB and VPA or CBZ; however, these agents are likely to be used concomitantly for the treatment of depressive disorders. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: VPA does not significantly affect PK or metabolism of MCB at steady state. CBZ significantly decreases MCB exposure. This effect is time-dependent, being more pronounced after 3-5 weeks of co-administration. AIM: To assess the impact of valproic acid (VPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) on moclobemide (MCB) pharmacokinetics (PK) and metabolism at steady state in depressive patients. METHODS: Twenty-one inpatients with recurrent endogenous depression received MCB (150 mg t.i.d.), either as monotherapy or in combination with VPA (500 mg b.i.d.) or CBZ (200 mg b.i.d.) in a nonrandomized manner. Steady-state plasma PK parameters of MCB and its two metabolites, Ro 12-8095 and Ro 12-5637, were derived. Clinical assessments of treatment efficacy were performed weekly using standard depression rating scales. RESULTS: CBZ, but not VPA, was associated with decreases in the MCB AUC by 35% [from 7.794 to 5.038 mg h l(-1); 95% confidence interval (CI) -4.84863, -0.66194; P = 0.01] and C(max) by 28% (from 1.911 to 1.383 mg l(-1); 95% CI -0.98197, -0.07518; P < 0.05), and an increase in its oral clearance by 41% (from 0.323 to 0.454 l h(-1) kg(-1); 95% CI 0.00086, 0.26171; P < 0.05) after 4 weeks of co-administration. MCB through concentrations were also decreased, on average by 41% (from 0.950 to 0.559 mg l(-1); 95% CI -0.77479, -0.03301; P < 0.05). However, the efficacy in this group of patients was not inferior to the controls, for several possible reasons. Overall tolerability of all study medications was good. CONCLUSIONS: VPA does not significantly affect PK or metabolism of MCB, whereas CBZ time-dependently decreases MCB exposure, probably by inducing metabolism of MCB and its major plasma metabolite. The actual clinical relevance of the observed MCB-CBZ PK interaction needs to be further evaluated in a more comprehensive study.

Population pharmacokinetic model of carbamazepine derived from routine therapeutic drug monitoring data.

The aim of the present study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of carbamazepine from routine therapeutic drug monitoring data. Steady-state carbamazepine plasma concentrations determined by homogenous enzyme immunoassay technique, dosing history including cotherapy, schedule of blood sampling, and patients' demographic characteristics were collected retrospectively from patients' chart histories. A one-compartment model was fitted to the data using nonlinear mixed effects modeling. The influence of weight, age, gender, smoking, allergy, carbamazepine daily dose, and cotherapy on clearance (CL/F) was evaluated. Additionally, bioavailability of controlled-release relative to immediate-release tablets was assessed. Two hundred sixty-five patients (423 concentrations) were used to develop a population pharmacokinetic model. The population estimate of CL/F from the base model was 5.14 L/h with interindividual variability of 50.20%. Patients' gender, age, smoking, allergy, cotherapy with lamotrigine and benzodiazepines had no effect on CL/F. Patient weight (WT), daily carbamazepine dose (DCBZ), daily dose of phenobarbitone (DPB) and valproic acid (VPA), when its daily dose exceeded 750 mg, significantly influenced CL/F and were included in the final model:[equation: see text] where VPA is 1 if dose is greater than 750 mg or 0 otherwise. No difference in bioavailability of carbamazepine between controlled- and immediate-release tablets was detected. The model predictions in the validation set had no bias and satisfactory precision. The model can be used for estimation of carbamazepine CL/F in individual patients in the postautoinduction phase and for selection of optimum dosing regimen in routine patient care.

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of moclobemide and its two major metabolites in human plasma.

A selective, sensitive, and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of moclobemide and its two major metabolites, Ro 12-5637 and Ro 12-8095, in human plasma. Sample preparation (0.5 ml of plasma) involved solid-phase extraction (SPE) using Speedisk H(2)O-Philic DVB columns. Separations were performed on a Waters XTerra RP18 column (5 microm, 150 mm x 4.6 mm). The mobile phase consisted of 10 mM KH(2)PO(4) with 1% triethylamine (pH 3.9) and acetonitrile (83:17, v/v), and a flow-rate was 1.2 ml/min. The total run time was 13 min. UV detection was performed at 240 nm. Mean absolute recoveries were > or =90% and the limit of quantification (LOQ) for all analytes was 0.02 mg/l. Calibration curves were linear (r>0.995) over a wide range of the analyte concentrations in plasma; thus, the method is suitable for different clinical studies when large variations in the drug/metabolites concentrations are observed. During a 5-day assay validation procedure the accuracy and precision were tested and proven (relative errors (RE)< or =13%; intra-day coefficient of variation (CV)< or =7%; inter-day CV< or =13%). Many drugs frequently used in the target patient population were evaluated for potential interference in order method selectivity to be ensured. The assay has been used in a clinical pharmacokinetic study to assess steady-state pharmacokinetics of moclobemide and two metabolites in depressive patients on mono- and combined therapy.

The new trends in theophylline therapy.

Sustained-release theophylline pellets formulation for once-daily evening administration significantly improved patients compliance and adjusted serum levels profile of the drug. The patients conversion from i.v. to p.o. therapy is one of the most critical steps in the treatment of asthma according to its chronopathophysiological character. In our study we have examined safety and efficiency of this conversion in twelve hospitalised asthmatic patients who were given the new sustained-release theophylline pellets formulation for once-daily evening administration. The lung function parameters (FEV1, VC, RV, and Rt) and serum theophylline concentrations were monitored. So, the values obtained for the last day of i.v. therapy and the fifth day of p.o. therapy were compared. We found that 75% of the patients had no change or improved lung function on the conversion. Our results indicate that this conversion from i.v. to p.o. theophylline therapy is safe and could be efficacious. Also, the maximum theophylline serum levels could safely be predicted by measuring only one serum concentration in p.o. therapy with sustained-release theophylline pellets formulation for once-daily evening administration.