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Oral Nifedipine Pharmacokinetics in Pregnancy‐Induced Hypertension
Author(s) -
Prevost Rebecca R.,
Aki Sherif A.,
Whybrew W. David,
Sibai Baha M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1992.tb04505.x
Subject(s) - nifedipine , pharmacokinetics , medicine , pregnancy , gestation , ingestion , oral administration , amniotic fluid , fetus , calcium , genetics , biology
The pharmacokinetics of oral nifedipine were studied in 15 women with pregnancy‐induced hypertension in the third trimester of pregnancy to determine if the drug's disposition was different from that in nonpregnant patients. Peak serum concentrations of 38.6 ± 18 ng/ml occurred at approximately 40 minutes after ingestion of nifedipine 10 mg. The terminal elimination half‐life (mean 1.3 ± 0.5 hrs) was shorter than that reported for normotensive volunteers and nonpregnant hypertensives after oral dosing. Mean ± SD apparent elimination clearance of 2.0 ± 0.8 L/hr/kg was more rapid than that in healthy volunteers (mean 0.49 ± 0.09 L/hr/kg). Random serum concentrations were progressively higher in patients receiving larger daily doses. Nifedipine was detected in samples of fetal cord blood and amniotic fluid at concentrations approximately 93% and 53% those of simultaneous maternal vein samples, respectively. The findings indicate that nifedipine may achieve greater antihypertensive efficacy in pregnant women if administered at shorter intervals.