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Antiarrhythmic plasma‐concentration range of imipramine against ventricular Premature depolarizations
Author(s) -
Giardina ElsaGrace V,
Louie May,
Bigger J Thomas,
Brem Rachel,
Alchevsky Diane
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.1983.169
Subject(s) - imipramine , medicine , cardiology , anesthesia , pathology , alternative medicine
The antiarrhythmic plasma‐concentration range of imipramine with desmethylimipramine was determined in 15 cardiac patients with ventricular arrhythmias. When more than 80% efficacy was reached, subjects' plasma concentrations of imipramine and desmethylimipramine were determined by gas chromatography. The imipramine dose required for suppression of ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) ranged from 50 to 400 mg a day (1.6 to 3.9 mg/kg/day). Peak plasma imipramine concentration was reached at 2.5 ± 0.92 hr and peak plasma desmethylimipramine concentration at 4.1 ± 2.8 hr after imipramine. At 80%, VPD suppression, mean steady‐state plasma concentration of imipramine with desmethylimipramine ranged from 74 to 385 ng/ml. The ratio of plasma imipramine to desmethylimipramine ranged from 0.5 to 5.5 (median = 1.3). The elimination t½ for the parent compound, imipramine, ranged from 4 to 14.4 hr. Imipramine is an effective antiarrhythmic drug with sustained duration of action, although its elimination t½ is relatively short. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1983) 34 , 284–289; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1983.169