The CYP2C8 inhibitor gemfibrozil does not increase the plasma concentrations of zopiclone.
OBJECTIVE
Zopiclone is a short acting hypnotic, which is metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and 2C8 in vitro. We studied the possible effect of gemfibrozil, an inhibitor of CYP2C8, on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of zopiclone.


METHODS
In a randomised 2-phase crossover study, 10 healthy volunteers took 600 mg gemfibrozil or placebo orally twice daily for 3 days. On day 3, each ingested a 7.5 mg dose of zopiclone. Plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of zopiclone and its two primary metabolites, plasma gemfibrozil, and psychomotor performance were measured. The effects of CYP2C8, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 inhibitors on the depletion of zopiclone (500 nM) were studied in vitro in human liver microsomes.


RESULTS
The pharmacokinetic variables of the parent zopiclone were not significantly affected by gemfibrozil. However, gemfibrozil raised the mean peak plasma concentration (C(max)) of N-oxide-zopiclone (1.6-fold; P<0.001) and that of N-desmethyl-zopiclone (1.2-fold; P<0.001). The mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0)-infinity) values of N-oxide-zopiclone and N-desmethyl-zopiclone were raised 2-fold (P<0.001) and 1.2-fold (P<0.01), respectively. The renal clearance of N-oxide-zopiclone was reduced by 48% by gemfibrozil (P<0.001). The pharmacodynamic effects of zopiclone, measured using psychometric tests, were not affected by gemfibrozil. In vitro, ketoconazole (1 microM) and itraconazole (8 microM) decreased the elimination rate of zopiclone enantiomers by about 65-95%, while montelukast (16 microM), gemfibrozil (200 microM) and sulfaphenazole (10 microM) had no appreciable effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Gemfibrozil does not increase the plasma concentrations of the parent zopiclone. Accordingly, CYP2C8 does not significantly metabolise zopiclone in vivo. However, as gemfibrozil raises the concentrations of two potentially active metabolites of zopiclone, slightly enhanced effects of zopiclone by gemfibrozil can not be excluded.
Tornio
Aleksi
A
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Neuvonen
Pertti J
PJ
Backman
Janne T
JT
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D065727:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010879:Piperazines / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; C515050:zopiclone; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C450259:CYP2C8 protein, human; D065727:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; C510163:CYP3A4 protein, human; D015248:Gemfibrozil