title: Pharmacokinetics of saquinavir co-administered with cimetidine.
abstract: The present study evaluated the effect of cimetidine, a histamine H(2) receptor antagonist able to inhibit cytochrome P450 metabolism, on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of saquinavir soft gel. Twelve healthy volunteers (eight males and four females) participated in an open-label, double-phase pharmacokinetic study. Volunteers took saquinavir soft gel 1200 mg three times a day for 13 days and then saquinavir soft gel 1200 mg twice a day with cimetidine 400 mg twice a day from day 14 to 26. The pharmacokinetics of saquinavir on days 13 and 26 were compared. All 12 volunteers completed the study. The association of cimetidine with saquinavir soft gel 1200 mg twice a day resulted in a significant increase in saquinavir AUC(0-24) (120%; P = 0.023) and C(max) (179%; P = 0.019), whereas C(trough) did not differ significantly (32% increase; P = 0.272). Increased exposure to saquinavir was observed in healthy volunteers after co-administration with cimetidine. The most significant increase involved C(max). Further pharmacokinetic studies in HIV-infected subjects are warranted to confirm the boosting effect of cimetidine and to investigate any impact that the increase in saquinavir C(max) may have on intracellular accumulation of the drug.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. martalbb@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boffito
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carriero
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trentini
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raiteri
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonora
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinicco
authors.forename: Helen E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Patrick G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hoggard
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Perri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019258:Saquinavir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D002927:Cimetidine; D019258:Saquinavir