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Pharmacokinetics of bambuterol in healthy subjects

Nyberg L, Rosenborg J, Weibull E, Jönsson S, Kennedy BM, Nilsson M

British journal of clinical pharmacology, 1998

18 citations

Abstract

Aims: To study the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the prodrug bambuterol and its bronchodilator moiety terbutaline in healthy subjects.

Methods: Eight healthy subjects (four women) received intravenous doses of bambuterol and terbutaline. On a third occasion, they, plus another four subjects, ingested oral bambuterol as a single dose followed by repeated doses once daily for 7 days. Plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of bambuterol and terbutaline were measured.

Results: After intravenous administration, renal clearances of bambuterol and terbutaline were similar (about 140 ml min(-1)), but there was a five-fold difference in total clearance (bambuterol 1.25 l min(-1), terbutaline 0.23 l min(-1)). Volume of distribution (Vss) was 1.6 l kg(-1) b.w. for both substances. A similar renal clearance of bambuterol was found during oral administration but that of terbutaline decreased (to about 120 ml min(-1)). Mean terminal half-life of bambuterol was 2.6 h after intravenous and 12 h after oral administration, implying that uptake was rate-limiting. Mean residence time of terbutaline generated from oral bambuterol was 34 h compared with 8.0 h when terbutaline as such was infused. Generated terbutaline had a bioavailability of 36% (28-46) after intravenous and 10.2% (6.1-13.2) after oral administration of the prodrug. Bambuterol was well tolerated. The mean activity of plasma cholinesterase, an enzyme catalyzing bambuterol metabolism, was inhibited between 30-60%…

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