title: Absorption and antiarrhythmic efficacy of sustained-release mexiletine.
abstract: Absorption of the antiarrhythmic agent mexiletine from conventional capsules (200 mg) and two sustained-release formulations (360 and 432 mg) was studied in four healthy volunteer subjects, and use of the 360-mg preparation was studied in nine patients who had been using conventional capsules. In the four volunteers, acute dosage with the 432-mg preparation produced a markedly lower peak mexiletine concentration and fewer side effects than did two 200-mg capsules. Chronic dosing in two volunteers, which indicated that the 360-mg preparation produced fewer side effects and lower predose and peak plasma mexiletine concentrations than did the 432-mg preparation, suggested the use of equivalent doses of the 360-mg preparation in the nine patients who had been using 100-, 200-, or 250-mg preparations. The arrhythmia control produced by the slow-release preparation, as measured by 24-hour ECGs, was comparable to that produced by the conventional forms of mexiletine; gastrointestinal side effects were less marked when patients took the slow-release preparation, despite higher mean predose plasma mexiletine concentrations associated with use of the 360-mg preparation. Reduced frequency of daily dosage as well as patient acceptance are clinical advantages of the slow-release preparation.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002214:Capsules; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008801:Mexiletine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D011437:Propylamines / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011437:Propylamines; D008801:Mexiletine