Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of ropinirole in parkinsonian patients.
OBJECTIVE
Ropinirole is a specific non-ergoline dopamine D2-receptor agonist with antiparkinsonian properties. The pharmacokinetic parameters of ropinirole taken in the fasted condition were compared with those when it was co-administered with food.


METHODS
This was an open, randomized, two sessions cross over study in 12 patients with Parkinson's disease, comparing the steady-state pharmacokinetic profiles of ropinirole on two different study days: 'fasted' and 'fed'.


RESULTS
The mean Cmax was lower in the 'fed' regimen than in the 'fasted' one (-25%, P=0.002). The median tmax was observed 2.6 h later in the 'fed' regimen than in the 'fasted' regimen (P<0.05). There was a slight but significant decrease in AUC(0,8 h) in the 'fed' regimen (P=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Food decreases the rate of absorption of ropinirole, but has little effect on the extent of absorption.
Brefel
C
C
Service de Pharmacologie Médicale et Clinique, INSERM U 455 et U 317, Faculté de Medecine, Toulouse, France.
Thalamas
C
C
Rayet
S
S
Lopez-Gil
A
A
Fitzpatrick
K
K
Bullman
S
S
Citerone
D R
DR
Taylor
A C
AC
Montastruc
J L
JL
Rascol
O
O
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019540:Area Under Curve; D005260:Female; D018565:Food-Drug Interactions; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007211:Indoles; C046649:ropinirole