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The effect of erythromycin on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of zopiclone.
Author(s) -
Aranko K,
Luurila H,
Backman JT,
Neuvonen PJ,
Olkkola KT
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1994.tb04367.x
Subject(s) - zopiclone , pharmacokinetics , pharmacodynamics , pharmacology , hypnotic , erythromycin , chemistry , crossover study , placebo , medicine , antibiotics , biochemistry , alternative medicine , pathology
1. The effect of erythromycin on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oral zopiclone, a non‐benzodiazepine hypnotic, was investigated in a double‐blind, cross‐over study. 2. Ten healthy volunteers were given placebo or 500 mg erythromycin orally three times a day for 6 days followed by an oral dose of 7.5 mg zopiclone. 3. Erythromycin increased plasma zopiclone concentration by 4‐fold at 0.5 h (P < 0.05) and by 2‐fold at 1 h (P < 0.05). There were increases of 3‐ and 2‐fold in the AUC(0,1 h) and AUC(0,2 h) values (P < 0.05). The total AUC of zopiclone increased by 80% (P < 0.05) but the peak concentration by only 40% (P < 0.05). The peak time of zopiclone concentration was reduced from 2 to 1 h (P < 0.001). 4. Significant pharmacodynamic differences between the treatments were observed from 0.5 h to 2 h with respect to saccadic latency and digit symbol substitution tests. 5. The interaction between erythromycin and zopiclone resulted mainly in accelerated absorption which may lead to a faster hypnotic effect in patients.