Inhibition of terfenadine metabolism in vitro by azole antifungal agents and by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants: relation to pharmacokinetic interactions in vivo.

Article Details

Citation

von Moltke LL, Greenblatt DJ, Duan SX, Harmatz JS, Wright CE, Shader RI

Inhibition of terfenadine metabolism in vitro by azole antifungal agents and by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants: relation to pharmacokinetic interactions in vivo.

J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1996 Apr;16(2):104-12.

PubMed ID
8690825 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Biotransformation of the H-1 antagonist terfenadine to its desalkyl and hydroxy metabolites was studied in vitro using microsomal preparations of human liver. These metabolic reactions are presumed to be mediated by Cytochrome P450-3A isoforms. The azole antifungal agent ketoconazole was a highly potent inhibitor of both reactions, having mean inhibition constants (Ki) of 0.037 and 0.34 microM for desalkyl- and hydroxy-terfenadine formation, respectively. Itraconazole also was a potent inhibitor, with Ki values of 0.28 and 2.05 microM, respectively. Fluconazole, on the other hand, was a weak inhibitor. Six selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants tested in this system were at least 20 times less potent inhibitors of terfenadine metabolism than was ketoconazole. An in vitro-in vivo scaling model used in vitro Ki values, typical clinically relevant plasma concentrations of inhibitors, and presumed liver:plasma partition ratios to predict the degree of terfenadine clearance impairment during coadministration of terfenadine with these inhibitors in humans. The model predicted a large and potentially hazardous impairment of terfenadine clearance by ketoconazole and, to a slightly lesser extent, by itraconazole. However, fluconazole and the six selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) at usual clinical doses were not predicted to impair terfenadine clearance to a degree that would be of clinical importance. Caution is nonetheless warranted with the coadministration of SSRIs and terfenadine when high doses of SSRIs (particularly fluoxetine) are administered. Also, some individuals may be unusually susceptible to metabolic inhibition for a variety of reasons.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
FluvoxamineCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Inhibitor
Details
Drug Interactions
DrugsInteraction
Terfenadine
Fluconazole
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Fluconazole is combined with Terfenadine.