Implications of obesity for drug therapy: limitations and challenges.

Obesity has become a worldwide challenge with significant health and socioeconomic implications. One of the major implications is its impact on drug therapy. In order to gain a better understanding of this impact, we surveyed the regulatory guidances, the newly approved molecular entity drug products, and drug product labels in the Physician's Desk Reference. This review summarizes the findings of the survey along with the existing knowledge on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes associated with obesity.

Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of L-carnitine 330-mg tablet versus 1-g chewable tablet versus enteral solution in healthy adult male volunteers.

The bioavailability and bioequivalence of three oral dosage forms of L-carnitine were studied in 15 healthy volunteers. Recently, an intravenous (iv) dosage form of L-carnitine has been approved to be marketed in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine after multiple dose administration of the three oral dosage forms (marketed solution, chewable tablet, and marketed tablet) the pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of each of the dosage forms at steady state and compare them with those following administration of a single iv dose. The relative bioavailability and bioequivalence of the chewable and marketed tablet relative to the marketed solution at steady-state replicate design conditions were also studied. Bioavailability based on data that was not corrected for the baseline (uncorrected data) was compared with bioavailability determined from data corrected for baseline. Steady-state conditions, based on free or total L-carnitine plasma concentrations, were achieved by Day 3, and products were bioequivalent based on the analysis of variance and comparisons by the two one-sided t test. Pharmacokinetic evaluations were found to be powerful tools for bioequivalence determinations; the power to detect 20% differences in AUC, Cmax tmax, and Cmin0 was > 80%. Mean absolute bioavailabilities (based on free or total L-carnitine plasma concentrations) on Day 4 (fraction of the dose absorbed) of Carnitor (levocarnitine) tablet, Carnitor (levocarnitine) oral solution, and levocarnitine chewable tablet relative to the first iv dose were approximately 18%. Similarly, absolute bioavailability compared with the last iv dose was approximately 18% for all three oral formulations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of L-carnitine pharmacokinetics with and without baseline correction following administration of single 20-mg/kg intravenous dose.

L-Carnitine, a naturally occurring compound, is indicated in the treatment of primary systemic carnitine deficiency. To assess the differences in pharmacokinetic parameters calculated from data corrected for baseline versus those from "uncorrected" data, compartmental fitting was carried out for baseline corrected and original plasma concentration data obtained following a single intravenous (iv) dose of 20 mg/kg. For free L-carnitine, mean volumes of distribution at steady state (Vdss) of the central compartment were similar using either approach (9.86 versus 11.2 L). However, Vdss (54.0 versus 29.0 L) and apparent elimination half-life (17.4 versus 5.0 h) were significantly different between the two data bases. Similar observations were noted for pharmacokinetic parameters based on plasma concentrations of total L-carnitine. Although the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained after baseline correction may represent the kinetics of a bolus dose, the pharmacokinetic parameters from uncorrected plasma data probably represent the clinical settings for patients. Baseline correction also probably has its greatest value in attempting to determine and/or define the biological half-life and Vdss for the "exogenously" administered dose and uncorrected data best describes the pharmacokinetics of composite endogenous and exogenous L-carnitine levels.

Multiple-dose acetaminophen pharmacokinetics.

Four different treatments of acetaminophen (Tylenol) were administered in multiple doses to eight healthy volunteers. Each treatment (325, 650, 825, and 1000 mg) was administered five times at 6-h intervals. Saliva acetaminophen concentration versus time profiles were determined. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and compared to determine whether acetaminophen exhibited linear or dose-dependent pharmacokinetics. For doses less than or equal to 18 mg/kg, area under the curve (AUC), half-life (t1/2), mean residence time (MRT), and ratio of AUC to dose for the first dose were compared with the last dose. No statistically significant differences were observed in dose-corrected AUC for the first or last dose among subjects or treatments. Half-lives and MRT were not significantly different among treatments for the first or the last dose. Statistically significant differences in t1/2 and MRT were noted (p less than 0.05) among subjects for the last dose. A plot of AUC versus dose for the first and the last doses exhibited a linear relationship. Dose-corrected saliva concentration versus time curves for the treatments were superimposable. Thus, acetaminophen exhibits linear pharmacokinetics for doses of 18 mg/kg or less. Plots of AUC versus dose for one subject who received doses higher than 18 mg/kg were curved, suggesting nonlinear behavior of acetaminophen in this subject.

Comparative bioavailability of slow release diclofenac (Voveran SR) with enteric coated tablet and internationally used Voltaren Retard.

The objective of the study was to compare the enteric coated diclofenac sodium (Voveran), the slow release formulation developed in India (Voveran SR) and the internationally marketed formulation Voltaren Retard. Ten healthy volunteers were administered 100 mg each of the three formulations in a three-way crossover fashion. Blood samples were collected over 24 hours following administration of the drug; plasma levels of unchanged drug were determined by gas chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters for the three formulations were compared. The extent of the drug available from the three formulations was the same as the mean AUC values were not significantly different. Cmax and MRT values for the two slow release formulations were comparable but were significantly different from the values obtained with the enteric coated formulation. Tmax values for the two slow release formulations were similar while the enteric coated tablet had faster time to peak. Voveran SR is comparable to Voltaren Retard and has the distinct advantage of a slow release formulation in that its Cmax is much lower and levels are maintained over 12 hours and detectable upto 24 hours. This slow release formulation will offer clinical advantages of better compliance, relief of early morning symptoms and better tolerability over long term usage.