Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of moclobemide in poor and efficient metabolizers of debrisoquine

Abstract

A number of pharmacokinetics studies in which patients had been phenotyped and poor metabolizers for moclobemide found were analysed retrospectively. There were 27 subjects in all, aged between 19 and 75 years, and 5 of these were classified as poor debrisoquine metabolizers. Although there was a wide variability in the pharmacokinetic parameters observed, no consistent relationship was found between these and debrisoquine phenotype. Poor debrisoquine metabolizers all had values within the extremes for the efficient metabolism. This was true for both single and multiple dosing. This analysis is limited by the small number of subjects as well as its retrospective nature. Nevertheless, the data suggest that no deviations of moclobemide pharmacokinetics should be expected in poor metabolizers of debrisoquine compared with normal metabolizers.