You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article

Does gender, food or grapefruit juice alter the pharmacokinetics of primaquine in healthy subjects?

  1. Bui Tri Cuong,
  2. Vu Quoc Binh,
  3. Bui Dai,
  4. Dinh Ngoc Duy,
  5. Claire M. Lovell,
  6. Karl H. Rieckmann,
  7. Michael D. Edstein*

Article first published online: 27 FEB 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02601.x

Issue

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Volume 61, Issue 6, pages 682–689, June 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Cuong, B. T., Binh, V. Q., Dai, B., Duy, D. N., Lovell, C. M., Rieckmann, K. H. and Edstein, M. D. (2006), Does gender, food or grapefruit juice alter the pharmacokinetics of primaquine in healthy subjects?. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 61: 682–689. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02601.x

Author Information

  1. Department of Infectious Disease, Central Military Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, and Department of Drug Evaluation, Australian Army Malaria Institute, Enoggera, QLD, Australia

*Dr M. D. Edstein, Australian Army Malaria Institute, Enoggera, QLD, 4051, Australia. Tel: + 61 7 3332 4801 Fax: + 61 7 3332 4800 E-mail: mike.edstein@defence.gov.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 FEB 2006
  2. Article first published online: 27 FEB 2006
  3. Received 6 March 2005 Accepted 9 November 2005

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (176K)

Keywords:

  • food;
  • gender;
  • grapefruit juice;
  • malaria;
  • pharmacokinetics;
  • primaquine

Aims

To evaluate the effects of gender, food and grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of primaquine in healthy subjects.

Methods

In a randomized, two-phase cross-over study, 10 male and 10 female healthy Vietnamese subjects were administered 30 mg primaquine in the fasting state or with food, followed by administration of primaquine with grapefruit juice.

Results

The pharmacokinetics of primaquine were comparable between male and female subjects, with geometric mean ratios of Cmax = 0.89 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65, 1.22] and AUC = 0.80 (95% CI 0.56, 1.15). The mean CL/F of primaquine was slightly higher in males than in females [0.52 l h−1 kg−1vs. 0.43 l h−1 kg−1, mean difference of 0.09 (95% CI –0.10, 0.28), P = 0.32]. When compared with fasting state values, food increased the geometric mean Cmax of primaquine by 26% (95% CI 12, 40) and the AUC by 14% (95% CI 3, 27). Similarly, grapefruit juice increased the geometric mean Cmax by 23% (95% CI 4, 45) and the AUC by 19% (95% CI 4, 37).

Conclusions

The disposition of primaquine was comparable between genders, suggesting no need to modify the dose of primaquine for malaria treatment or prophylaxis. Food increased the oral bioavailability of primaquine, which may lead to higher antimalarial efficacy. Grapefruit juice increased the bioavailability of primaquine, with marked interindividual differences suggesting that people should not take primaquine with grapefruit juice.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (176K)