A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction study between nebivolol and the H2-receptor antagonists cimetidine and ranitidine.

AIMS: The study was designed to investigate the effects of the H2-receptor antagonists, cimetidine and ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nebivolol in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Twelve healthy volunteers took part in a randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study. Each subject received on three separate occasions placebo, cimetidine (400 mg twice daily) or ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) for 24 h before and 48 h after a single oral dose of nebivolol (5 mg). Nebivolol and its individual (+) and (-) enantiomers were determined tby h.p.l.c. RESULTS: Ranitidine had no significant effect on nebivolol pharmacokinetics. Cimetidine, however, resulted in a 21-23% increase in Cmax of unchanged nebivolol and of each enantiomer plus its hydroxylated metabolites. Cimetidine significantly (p < 0.05) increased the AUC [mean +/- s.d. (95% C.I. of differences in mean)] for unchanged (+/-)-nebivolol [7.76 +/- 3.07 ng ml-1 h with placebo; 11.50 +/- 5.40 (1.75, 8.76) ng ml-1 h with cimetidine], (+)-nebivolol plus its hydroxylated metabolites [73.0 +/- 18.0 ng ml-1 h with placebo; 91.5 +/- 25.7 (1.0, 23.1) ng ml-1 h with cimetidine] and (-)-nebivolol plus its hydroxylated metabolites [101 +/- 32 ng ml-1 h with placebo; 123 +/- 38 (3.3, 27.0) ng ml-1 h with cimetidine]. Statistical analysis of the resting blood pressure and heart rate and exercise data did not suggest any consistent effects of ranitidine or cimetidine upon the pharmacodynamic effects of nebivolol. CONCLUSIONS: There was no interaction between ranitidine and nebivolol. Although cimetidine inhibited nebivolol metabolism, it did not have a significant influence on the pharmacodynamics of the drug.