title: Cimetidine-induced rise in praziquantel levels in a patient with neurocysticercosis being treated with anticonvulsants.
abstract: A patient had neurocysticercosis complicated by a seizure disorder requiring anticonvulsants; previous praziquantel therapy (50 mg/kg/day) had failed to eradicate the disease. In an attempt to inhibit cytochrome P-450 metabolism of praziquantel, cimetidine (1600 mg/day) was coadministered. Before addition of cimetidine, the maximum concentration of praziquantel was 350 ng/mL; concurrent cimetidine administration increased the maximum concentration to 826 ng/mL. The elimination half-life increased from 1.7 h without cimetidine to 3.3 h with cimetidine and the area under the curve for the 12-h sampling period rose from 754 ng.h/mL to 3050 ng.h/mL. Coadministration of cimetidine raises serum praziquantel levels and may be helpful in patients treated concomitantly with praziquantel and anticonvulsants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Dachman
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Adubofour
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bikin
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Mullin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winograd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011223:Praziquantel; D002927:Cimetidine