title: Diltiazem does not always increase blood cyclosporin concentration.
abstract: The pharmacokinetic interaction between the calcium channel blocking drug, diltiazem (DTZ), the antifungal agent itraconazole (ICZ) and the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin (CsA) was studied in a patient with a single lung transplant. The CsA area under curve estimations demonstrated a significant increase when ICZ was co-prescribed (5836 micrograms l-1 h vs 8159 micrograms l-1 h) but no increase when DTZ was co-prescribed with CsA (5836 micrograms l-1 h vs 5069 micrograms l-1 h). Despite widespread use as a CsA-sparing agent, DTZ does not always increase CsA concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South Australia.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000097:blood*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D004110:Diltiazem