Relationship between pharmacokinetics and hemodynamic tolerance to isosorbide-5-mononitrate

Summary

Healthy male volunteers received three different dose regimens of a controlled-release form of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN; 60 mg per tablet). Dose regimen I consisted of a single daily dose of 60 mg given for 5 days. Dose regimen 11 was started with a dose of 60 mg, followed by 30 mg 12 h later and thereafter every 8 h. The last dose, on the 5th day was again 60 mg. In dose regimen III60 mg followed by 30 mg 6 h later were administered every day for 5 days. The peripheral arterial and venous effects of IS-5-MN during the first and last dosing interval were followed by changes in the finger pulse curve, standing systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and venous distensibility. Plasma concentrations of IS-5-MN were measured frequently following the first and the last dose. Following dose regimen I all hemodynamic effects produced by the first dose were maintained during the study. The maximal plasma concentrations were about 400 ng/ml and the trough value, lower than 100 ng/ml. Following dose regimen II the hemodynamic effects of IS-5-MN and sublingual glyceroltrinitrate were completely abolished on the 5th day. Trough plasma concentrations were approximately 300 ng/ml during the entire study period. Following dose regimen III pronounced hemodynamic effects were seen on the 1st day. However, a significant attenuation of the hemodynamic effects was measured on the 5th day, when trough plasma concentrations were between 100 and 230 ng/ml. There was a significant negative correlation between the magnitude of hemodynamic effect remaining on the 5th day (measured by the area under the finger pulse curve) and the trough plasma concentration. Thus, the maintenance of minimum plasma concentrations of IS-5MN of 300 ng/ml or higher produces a rapid development of hemodynamic nitrate tolerance, whereas no tolerance was found when the plasma concentrations were allowed to decline below 100 ng/ml before the next dose was given. A significant attenuation of hemodynamic effects was found when minimum plasma concentrations were between 100 and 230 ng/ml. The degree of attenuation in this concentration range increased with increasing trough plasma concentrations.