title: Effects of orally administered antibiotics on the bioavailability of amlodipine: gut microbiota-mediated drug interaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amlodipine is a representative calcium channel blocker that is frequently prescribed for the treatment of hypertension. In this study, the possibility of drug-drug interactions between amlodipine and coadministered antibiotics (ampicillin) was investigated in rats; thus, changes in the metabolic activities of gut microflora and the consequent pharmacokinetic pattern of amlodipine following ampicillin treatment were characterized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In human and rat fecalase incubation samples, amlodipine was metabolized to yield a major pyridine metabolite. The remaining amlodipine decreased and the formation of pyridine metabolite increased with incubation time, indicating the involvement of gut microbiota in the metabolism of amlodipine. Pharmacokinetic analyses showed that systemic exposure of amlodipine was significantly elevated in antibiotic-treated rats compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed that antibiotic intake might increase the bioavailability of amlodipine by suppressing gut microbial metabolic activities, which could be followed by changes in therapeutic potency. Therefore, coadministration of amlodipine with antibiotics requires caution and clinical monitoring.
authors.affiliation: aInstitute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology and College of Pharmacy, Hanyang University bDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea *Hye Hyun Yoo and In Sook Kim contributed equally to the writing of this article.
authors.forename: Hye Hyun
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: In Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae-Hyeong
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Dong-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001682:Biological Availability; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D017311:Amlodipine; D000667:Ampicillin