Sufentanil disposition. Is it affected by erythromycin administration?
BACKGROUND
Because oral erythromycin administration has been associated with reduced elimination of alfentanil, suspicion has been raised about related opioids with similar metabolic pathways. A controlled crossover study of sufentanil pharmacokinetics was undertaken to resolve this issue.


METHODS
Six subjects had measurements of plasma concentrations for 9 h after intravenous administration of sufentanil (3 micrograms/kg). Each subject was studied following no erythromycin (control) and after 1- and 7-day courses of erythromycin base.


RESULTS
Plasma concentrations during the 9 h of measurement were similar before and after erythromycin. Terminal half-life and clearance and distribution volume did not change significantly among treatment groups. Values measured after 7 days of erythromycin were similar to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Prior administration of erythromycin does not alter pharmacokinetics of sufentanil in the 9 h following sufentanil administration. Thus, there are no apparent clinical consequences of prior or concomitant erythromycin administration in patients receiving sufentanil for procedures of 9 h or less.
Bartkowski
R R
RR
Department of Anesthesiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-5092.
Goldberg
M E
ME
Huffnagle
S
S
Epstein
R H
RH
D000328:Adult; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D004917:Erythromycin; D017409:Sufentanil