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Alprazolam Pharmacokinetics in Alcoholic Liver Disease
Author(s) -
JUHL RANDY P.,
THIEL DAVID H.,
DITTERT LEWIS W.,
SMITH RANDALL B.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1984.tb02773.x
Subject(s) - alprazolam , pharmacokinetics , alcoholic liver disease , liver disease , medicine , liter , half life , drug , drug metabolism , elimination rate constant , volume of distribution , pharmacology , cirrhosis , anxiety , psychiatry
Alprazolam, a triazolobenzodiazepine, was administered to 17 patients with alcoholic liver disease. The pharmacokinetic parameters derived from plasma alprazolam concentrations were compared with data obtained from 17 normal subjects who were matched for age and sex. The rate of absorption of alprazolam was slower in patients with alcoholic liver disease. The time of maximum serum concentration was 3.3 hours, compared with 1.5 hour in normals ( P < 0.02). The maximum concentrations, however, did not differ (18.4 vs. 17.2 μg/ml). The elimination half‐life of drug was longer in the patients (19.7 hours) than in the normal subjects (11.4 hours), while the clearance of the drug was slower in the patients with alcoholic liver disease (0.6 vs. 1.2 ml/min/kg). The volumes of distribution (area) did not differ between the two groups (1.1 vs. 1.2 liter/kg). The changes in elimination half‐life and clearance indicate that the metabolism of the drug is slowed in patients with alcoholic liver disease.