INFLUENCE OF FOOD AND BODY-WEIGHT ON THE PHARMACOKINETICS OF PENTICAINIDE

The pharmacokinetics of penticainide, a class Ic antiarrhythmic drug, was studied in 16 healthy adults (eight males and eight females) after a single 300-mg oral dose in fasting conditions and with a standard m eat. Penticainide concentrations in plasma and urine were measured by hplc. The pharmacokinetic parameters of penticainide including C-max, t(max), AUC and t(1/2) were not significantly altered in the presence of food. AUC values (mean +/- sd) were 50.68 +/- 10.8 mg.h.l(-1) and 4 9.52 +/- 9.87 mg.h.l(-1) in the absence and pre sence of food, respect ively. However, a significant difference was observed between males an d females in both fasting and fed conditions with a higher value of th e apparent oral clearance in the second group. The values of apparent oral clearance, expressed in weight-normalized units were 1.33 +/- 0.3 5 ml.mn(-1).kg(-1) (male) and 1.93 +/- 0.34 ml.mn(-1).kg(-1) (female) in fast conditions (P < 0.01) and 1.38 +/- 0.28 ml.mn(-1).kg(-1) (mate ) and 1.93 +/- 0.49 ml.mn(-1).kg(-1) (female) in fed conditions (P < 0 .02), respectively. The pharmacokinetics of penticainide is not modifi ed by the presence of food, but an influence of body weight may be con sidered.