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Pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in paediatric patients with uncontrolled seizures
Author(s) -
Tallian K. B.,
Nahata M. C.,
Lo W.,
Tsao C.Y.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2004.00596.x
Subject(s) - gabapentin , pharmacokinetics , medicine , cmax , anticonvulsant , anesthesia , partial epilepsy , epilepsy , pharmacology , alternative medicine , pathology , psychiatry
Summary Purpose: The pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in paediatric patients with uncontrolled seizures was studied. Methods: Thirteen paediatric patients (mean age: 9·4 years) with uncontrolled partial seizures were included. Patients received gabapentin orally until doses were individualized to 9·6–39·8 mg/kg/day. Blood samples were obtained just prior to the dose and over 8 h after gabapentin was administered in the fasting state. The plasma concentration of gabapentin was measured by a high‐performance liquid chromatography assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters for gabapentin were determined by non‐compartment methods using multivariate regression analysis. Results: Data from nine patients were suitable for pharmacokinetic analysis. The C max from 0·9 to 5·8 μ g/mL (mean: 2·6 ± 1·7 μ g/mL) and T max from 0·5 to 2·0 h (mean: 1·6 ± 1·0 h). The apparent clearance (Cl/ F ) ranged from 0·12 to 1·12 L/h/kg (mean: 0·50 ± 0·29 L/h/kg), and the elimination half‐life from 3·2 to 12·2 h (mean: 5·5 ± 0·8 h). Five patients experienced moderate ( n = 4) to severe ( n = 1) aggressive behaviour and another gained weight on gabapentin. Conclusions: Our data suggests that gabapentin pharmacokinetics can vary substantially among paediatric patients. Gabapentin was well tolerated in patients with uncontrolled partial seizures up to 6 months of therapy.