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In a closed metabolic ward the pharmacokinetics of methadone and its primary metabolite (EDDP) were studied in 20 long-term opiate addicts. After administration of the daily oral dose of methadone HCl (mean 60 mg, range 10-225 mg) blood samples were taken and analysed, using a newly developed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The steady-state plasma concentrations of the 20 subjects varied from 65-630 ng·ml and from 5 to 55 ng·ml, whereas the peak concentrations were 124-1255 ng·ml and 10 - 301 ng·ml for methadone and EDDP, respectively. The calculated ratios between the area under the curve (AUC) for methadone and the AUC for EDDP varied from 5.9 to 44.6, indicating interindividual differences in metabolic activity. In 19 out of 20 subjects the pharmacokinetics of methadone are best described using a two-compartment model. The mean body clearance was 1.64 ml·min·kg, whereas the mean elimination rate constant (β) and plasma half-life ( tβ) were 0.026·h (range 0.013-0.053·h) and 31.2 h (range 13-53 h), respectively. Differences of gender were also found. A poor correlation was found between the methadone dose and the steady-state level. A much better correlation was found between the normalized steady-state level and the body clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution and elimination of intravenous digoxin were investigated in seven neonates and infants with heart failure. Serum digoxin concentrations during a 24 h period were determined by radioimmunoassay, usingI as tracer. The serum values declined biexponentially after the injection and could be fitted to a two-compartment open model by non-linear least-squares regression. The calculated mean half-lives of the distribution (alpha) phase in neonates and infants were 37 and 28 min, respectively. The mean half-life of the elimination (beta) phase in neonates was 44 h, as compared to 19 h in infants. The mean volume of the central compartment and the mean volume of distribution at steady-state were calculated to be 1.3 and 9.9 l/kg, respectively; no significant differences between neonates and infants were found. The relation between these volumes indicates that digoxin is extensively distributed in tissues. The steady-state distribution volumes of digoxin in neonates and infants exceed those reported in adults. The larger volume of distribution might explain in part why infants with cardiac insufficiency require larger doses of digoxin than adults (on a mg/kg body weight basis) to obtain the same serum concentrations. Elimination of digoxin from the body was slower in neonates than in infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacokinetics of tranexamic acid has been investigated in two healthy volunteers. The behaviour of the drug can be described in terms of a two compartment open model; the disposition (biological) half-life was 2.7 h and 1.9 h, respectively. In five normal volunteers the mean total recovery in urine 48 h after dosing was 94.8%. The renal clearance in the two subjects, adjusted to 1.73 m body surface area, was 135 and 132 ml/min/1.73 m, respectively, indicating that tranexamic acid is eliminated by glomerular filtration and that neither tubular excretion nor absorption takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]