title: Multiple-dose evaluation of intravenous hydromorphone pharmacokinetics in normal human subjects.
abstract: We measured the pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone in normal volunteers given three doses of the drug (10, 20, and 40 micrograms/kg) as intravenous 45-s injections on different days. Concentrations of hydromorphone in plasma from serial blood samples were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography method specific for hydromorphone with a detection limit of 0.1 ng/mL. In all cases, plasma hydromorphone concentration versus time data for individual subjects were best described by a triexponential (instead of mono- or biexponential) function. Furthermore, we found that the pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone was independent of dose across the range studied. Averaged across doses, the distribution and terminal elimination half-lives were 1.27 min (t1/2 pi), 14.7 min (t1/2 alpha), and 184 min (t1/2 beta), respectively. Average values for systemic clearance, initial dilution volume, and steady-state volume of distribution were 1.66 L/min (Cl), 24.4 L (Vc), and 295 L (Vdss). Our results indicate that hydromorphone pharmacokinetic parameters are linear across a fourfold range of doses that are usually employed clinically and that previously reported pharmacokinetic values for hydromorphone (based on radioimmunoassay measurements) deserve reconsideration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98104.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Coda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schaffer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D004091:Hydromorphone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D004091:Hydromorphone