Lack of a pharmacokinetic interaction between oral famciclovir and allopurinol in healthy volunteers

• Published in: European journal of clinical pharmacology 1994, Vol.46 (4), p.355-359
• Main Authors: FOWLES, S. E, PRATT, S. K, LAROCHE, J, PRINCE, W. T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2-Aminopurine - administration & dosage; 2-Aminopurine - analogs & derivatives; 2-Aminopurine - pharmacokinetics; Acyclovir - administration & dosage; Acyclovir - analogs & derivatives; Acyclovir - pharmacokinetics; Administration, Oral; Adult; Allopurinol - administration & dosage; Allopurinol - pharmacokinetics; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Antiviral Agents - pharmacokinetics; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Interactions; Famciclovir; Half-Life; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxypurinol - administration & dosage; Oxypurinol - pharmacokinetics; Pharmacology. Drug treatments
• ISSN: 0031-6970; 1432-1041
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00194405

Famciclovir has been shown to have potent and selective activity against herpesviruses. The possibility of a pharmacokinetic interaction between the anti-viral agent, famciclovir and allopurinol has been investigated in twelve healthy male volunteers following a single oral dose of famciclovir (500 mg) in the presence and absence of steady-state levels of allopurinol (300 mg). Similarly, the pharmacokinetic profiles of allopurinol and oxypurinol prior to and following a single dose of famciclovir were compared. Mean values of Cmax, AUC and terminal-phase half-life for penciclovir following administration of famciclovir alone at 3.3 micrograms.ml-1, 8.8 micrograms.h.ml-1 and 2.1 h, respectively were unchanged by co-administration of allopurinol. Similarly, mean urinary recovery and renal clearance values of penciclovir following famciclovir alone were 56.8% and 27 l.h-1, and when given with allopurinol 59.7% and 27.5 l.h-1, respectively. No evidence of accumulation of the inactive precursor to penciclovir, BRL 42359, was noted as a result of co-administration of the two drugs. Mean steady-state Cmax, AUC and terminal-phase half-life values for allopurinol after co-administration of allopurinol with famciclovir also appeared unchanged from values obtained after dosing of allopurinol alone, at 2.12 micrograms.ml-1, 5.73 micrograms.h.ml-1 and 1.38 h, respectively. Mean Cmax and AUC values of the active metabolite of allopurinol, oxypurinol were 11.2 micrograms.ml-1 and 96.0 micrograms.h.ml-1, respectively, and these were also unaltered by co-administration of famciclovir with allopurinol, with values of 10.6 micrograms/ml and 89.8 micrograms.h/ml, respectively.