ISSN:
1432-1041
Keywords:
Eptastigmine
;
Cholinesterase inhibition
;
Elderly subjects
;
adverse effects
;
pharmacokinetics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Eptastigmine is a new cholinesterase inhibitor, which may be potentially useful for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A preliminary evaluation of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles in the elderly has now been made in 6 healthy subjects (63–84 years of age) given 30 mg eptastigmine as a single oral dose. Blood was collected prior to and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h after eptastigmine administration for measurement of cholinesterase inhibition in plasma and red blood cells and the plasma drug concentrations. The maximum plasma cholinesterase inhibition was 17%, which was reached 2.7 h after treatment. In red cells the maximum inhibition of the enzyme was 29% after 3.8 h. The estimated half-time of cholinesterase recovery was 12.4 h in plasma and 13.6 h in red blood cells. The peak plasma concentration of eptastigmine of 0.86 ng·ml−1 was reached after 1.4 h. Following absorption the drug was rapidly distributed into tissues (t1/2α = 0.44 h) and then eliminated with a half-life of 12.1 h. The drug was well tolerated in all but one subject, who showed bradycardia with hypertension and nausea for about 2 h after the dose. The results indicate that oral administration of eptastigmine to elderly subjects produces long lasting inhibition of cholinesterase activity in plasma and in red blood cells.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00265958
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