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Steady‐State Pharmacokinetics of Theophylline in COPD Patients Treated With Dirithromycin
Author(s) -
Bachmann Kenneth,
Jauregui Luis,
Sides Gregory,
Sullivan Timothy J.
Publication year - 1993
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.1552-4604.1993.tb01964.x
Subject(s) - theophylline , pharmacokinetics , medicine , bronchodilator , copd , trough concentration , steady state (chemistry) , pharmacology , regimen , dosing , anesthesia , asthma , chemistry
Steady‐state theophylline pharmacokinetic parameters were studied in a panel of 14 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated before, during, and after a 10‐day regimen of the macrolide antibiotic, dirithromycin. The addition of dirithromycin (500 mg orally once daily at 7:00 am ) to a sustained‐release theophylline dosing regimen (every 12 hours) elicited small changes in the steady‐state pharmacokinetics of theophylline, which were not statistically significant. Mean steady‐state plasma theophylline trough concentrations (C ss,min ) were invariant before, during, and after dirithromycin treatment. Mean average steady‐state plasma theophylline concentrations (C av ) declined by 7% during dirithromycin treatment (NS), and mean peak plasma concentrations (C ss,max ) declined by 12% (NS). Theophylline clearance (CL/F) also remained relatively unchanged during dirithromycin treatment exhibiting an increase of only 11% (NS). Dirithromycin treatment does not significantly affect the steady‐state pharmacokinetics of theophylline, and its use in COPD patients is not likely to modify treatment outcomes with theophylline.