title: Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of scopolamine after subcutaneous administration.
abstract: The effects of subcutaneously administered scopolamine on quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) and cognitive performance were evaluated and correlated with pharmacokinetic parameters in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of 10 healthy male volunteers. Changes in qEEG and cognition were determined for 8 hours after drug administration. Scopolamine produced dose- and time-dependent impairments of attention and memory and a time-dependent increase in delta power (1.25-4.50 Hz) and a decrease in fast alpha power (9.75-12.50 Hz) on qEEG compared with placebo. Maximum serum concentrations of scopolamine occurred 10 to 30 minutes after drug administration. Mean peak serum concentrations (free base) were 3.27, 8.99, and 18.81 ng/mL after administration of 0.4, 0.6 mg, and 0.8 mg scopolamine, respectively. Elimination half-life was approximately 220 minutes. The findings indicate temporary changes in qEEG and psychometric tests, and support the possible use of such a testing model for impaired cognitive functions such as age-related memory disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Technology, Medical School Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siepmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oertel
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wesnes
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kirch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D012601:Scopolamine