PHARMACOKINETICS OF FAMOTIDINE IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Famotidine pharmacokinetics were studied in 13 patients with severe cy stic fibrosis (CF) ranging from 10 to 47 years of age and 25 to 72 kg in weight. Patients were randomized to first receive famotidine either 20 mg intravenously or 40 mg orally Twelve patients were crossed over to the alternate treatment. Repeated blood samples were obtained over 12 hours after intravenous and oral administration and urine was coll ected over 24 hours for quantitation of famotidine by means of high-pe rformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A compartment model-dependent approach was used to characterize the disposition of famotidine. From the intravenous data, the mean +/- standard deviation elimination half -life (t(1/2)) was 2.11 +/- 0.75 hours, the total clearance (CI) tvas 0.79 +/- 0.41 L/kg/hr, the renal clearance was 0.57 +/- 0.26 L/kg/hr, the fraction eliminated unchanged in the urine was 83% +/- 16%, and th e apparent volume of distribution (Vd(ss)) was -1.33 +/- 0.53 L/kg. Th e bioavailability determined from comparison of intravenous and oral a rea under the curve data was 71% +/- 27%. Results of this study suppor t an initial famotidine dose of 20 mg intravenously or 40 mg orally ev ery 12 hours in patients with CF who are older than 9 years of age. (C ) 1998 The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.