The metabolism of nicardipine hydrochloride in healthy male volunteers

Abstract

1. Four human volunteers given a 30 mg oral dose of nicardipine hydrochloride containing 40μCi of the ¹⁴C-labelled material achieved peak plasma levels of compound-related radioactivity within one hour of dosing. Parent compound comprised only a minor fraction of the circulating radioactivity indicating rapid first-pass metabolism. 2. Plasma radioactivity declined to background levels within 96 h and was excreted both in the urine and faeces. Urinary excretion was the favoured route comprising about 60% of the dosed radioactivity. Mean total recovered radioactivity amounted to 94.8%. 3. Both 1,4-dihydropyridine and pyridine metabolites of nicardipine hydrochloride were excreted in the urine. The major urinary metabolites, comprising some 36% of the radioactivity excreted in the 0–8h post-dose period, were the glucuronide conjugates of ± 2-hydroxyethyl methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4(m-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridine dicarboxylate and its pyridine from 2-hydroxyethyl methyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-(m-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridine dicarboxylate.