NO INFLUENCE OF SINGLE INTRAVENOUS DOSES OF OMEPRAZOLE ON THEOPHYLLINE ELIMINATION KINETICS

The influence of single intravenous doses of omeprazole on the pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered theophylline was studied in eight healthy male volunteers. In a partially randomized three-period crossover design, an IV infusion of theophylline (400 mg over 30 min) was combined with IV omeprazole (either 40 mg over 2.5 min or 80 mg over 5 min) or with IV placebo (over 2.5 min). Theophylline and omeprazole plasma concentrations were measured over 24 hours after the start of the infusions and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. The theophylline plasma concentration-time profiles after omeprazole coadministration were virtually identical to the corresponding profile after placebo administration. For each of the pharmacokinetic parameters of theophylline, the 90% confidence intervals of the omeprazole coadministrations were within the 80 to 120% bioequivalence range with respect to the placebo coadministration. Omeprazole plasma concentrations indicated a biexponential decline in most subjects, with a more rapid elimination after the 40-mg than after the 80-mg dose (P < .01). Doubling the dose caused an almost three-fold increase of AUC resulting in a difference in clearance (P < .02), whereas the volume of distribution was similar. The results of this study indicate that the metabolism of theophylline is not affected by single intravenous doses of omeprazole. The nonlinear pharmacokinetics of omeprazole are ascribed to saturation of its main metabolizing enzyme, S-mephenytoin hydroxylase.