Summary
Procainamide was given to 20 patients with normal renal function as an i.v. bolus of 500 mg followed by 1.0 or 1.5 g eight-hourly by mouth in the form of a slow release preparation (Durules). 97.6±27.1 (SD)% of the oral procainamide was absorbed, the absorption half life being 1.54 h. The elimination half life following the oral formulation was 6.0±0.8 h, compared to a mean of 3.4±0.4 h following i.v. administration. Elimination half life following i.v. administration was slightly related to acetylator status, being 2.75±0.9 h in fast acetylators, and 4.4±2.4 h in slow acetylators. This dependence on acetylator status was not seen in half life following oral administration. Total body clearance, steady state plasma procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide were not significantly dependent on acetylator status, although a few patients who are slow acetylators had unexpectedly low clearance and high steady state procainamide concentrations when given the higher dose.
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Tilstone, W.J., Lawson, D.H., Campbell, W. et al. The pharmacokinetics of slow-release procainamide. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 14, 261–265 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00560459
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00560459