title: Comparative pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous and oral nefopam in healthy volunteers.
abstract: To determine the pharmacokinetic, subjective effects of a single 20 mg dose of nefopam administered either intravenously or orally in healthy volunteers, twenty-four healthy Caucasian men received 20 mg nefopam orally+placebo intravenous infusion and placebo orally+intravenous infusion of 20 mg nefopam with one week interval, in a double-blind, double-dummy cross-over study. Nefopam and desmethyl-nefopam plasma concentrations were measured by HPLC with UV detection up to 48 hr after drug administration. Self-rating questionnaires (Mood and vigilance Visual Analogue Scales, Addiction Research Centre Inventory) and drug safety were investigated. The F value (bioavailability) of the parent drug was 0.36+/-0.13. The AUCoral/AUCiv ratio of nefopam+desmethyl-nefopam was 0.62+/-0.23. The half-life of nefopam was similar whether administered orally (5.1+/-1.3 hr) or intravenously (5.1+/-0.6 hr). The half-life of desmethyl-nefopam was two to three times longer than that of the parent molecule (orally: 10.6+/-3.0 versus 5.1+/-1.3 hr, P<10(-4) and intravenously: 15.0+/-2.4 versus 5.1+/-0.6 hr, P<10(-4)). As assessed by the Addiction Research Centre Inventory, no evidence of abuse liability in healthy, drug-naive volunteers was observed. On visual analogue scales, volunteers rated themselves as more drowsy, less alert, less energetic and less anxious after oral compared to intravenous administration. The AUC0-->24 hr of anxiety and energy parameters were not different after oral and intravenous administration: 90+/-142 versus 35+/-84 (P=0.27) and 66+/-74 versus 46+/-54 mm x hr (P=0.36), respectively. The AUC0-->24 hr of drowsiness and alertness parameters were significantly greater after oral than after intravenous administration: 68+/-65 versus 27+/-30 (P=0.005) and 54+/-63 versus 28+/-48 mm x hr (P=0.03), respectively. A clockwise hysteresis loop was observed for drowsiness in 16 out of 24 volunteers after oral administration. The results suggest that in healthy volunteers desmethyl-nefopam may contribute to the pharmacodynamic effects of single dose nefopam solution administered orally. This study shows a rather low bioavailability of nefopam given in intravenous solution when administered orally. Nevertheless, when the main metabolite desmethyl-nefopam is taken into account, the ratio of the areas under the curves is almost doubled.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, 75751 Paris, Cedex 13, France. pharmaco.cinetique@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aymard
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Warot
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Démolis
authors.forename: Jean François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Giudicelli
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lechat
authors.forename: Marie Emmanuelle
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Le Guern
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alquier
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Diquet
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001682:Biological Availability; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009340:Nefopam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010147:Pain Measurement
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; C477699:desmethyl-nefopam; D009340:Nefopam