PLASMA-PROTEIN BINDING OF RISPERIDONE AND ITS DISTRIBUTION IN BLOOD

The plasma protein binding of the new antipsychotic risperidone and of its active metabolite 9-hydroxy-risperidone was studied in vitro by e quilibrium dialysis. Risperidone was 90.0% bound in human plasma, 88.2 % in rat plasma and 91.7% in dog plasma. The protein binding of 9-hydr oxy-risperidone was lower and averaged 77.4% in human plasma, 74.7% in rat plasma and 79.7% in dog plasma. In human plasma, the protein bind ing of risperidone was independent of the drug concentration up to 200 ng/ml. The binding of risperidone increased at higher pH values. Risp eridone was bound to both albumin and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein. The plasma protein binding of risperidone and 9-hydroxy-risperidone in the elderly was not significantly different from that in young subjects. Plasma protein binding differences between patients with hepatic or re nal impairment and healthy subjects were either not significant or rat her small. The blood to plasma concentration ratio of risperidone aver aged 0.67 in man, 0.51 in dogs and 0.78 in rats. Displacement interact ions of risperidone and 9-hydroxy-risperidone with other drugs were mi nimal.