Effects of Voriconazole on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Oral Buprenorphine: A Two-phase Cross-over Study in Healthy Subjects

Variability in drug response can be due to either pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic factors. The reasons why people differ in pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics are manifold and include, e.g., genetic factors, diseases, age and concomitantly administered drugs. Oxidation reactions are dominant in the metabolism of drugs and cytochrome P-450 enzymes (CYP) have been recognized as chief contributors (Guengerich 1992). We have previously shown that drug interactions mediated by the inhibition of CYP enzymes may be of major clinical significance (Olkkola et al. 1993; Olkkola et al. 1994; Varhe et al. 1994; Olkkola et al. 1999; Palkama et al. 1999; Jokinen et al. 2000).

Buprenorphine undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism and has low oral bioavailability of 15 % (Cone et al. 1984). Bioavailability following sublingual administration of buprenorphine is higher, 50-60 % (Nath et al. 1999). After high sublingual doses of buprenorphine (8-24 mg), peak plasma concentrations are reached in 1 hour (McAleer et al. 2003, Ciraulo et al. 2006) and after low sublingual doses (0.4 mg) they are reached in approximately 3 h (Billingham 1981). Approximately two-thirds of a buprenorphine dose is excreted unchanged, and the rest is metabolized in the liver and intestinal wall. N-dealkylation of buprenorphine mainly via CYP3A but also CYP2C8 yields norbuprenorphine, and glucuronidation yields buprenorphine-3-glucuronide (Cone et al. 984). Norbuprenorphine is excreted in the urine after subsequent conjugation. 80-90 % of buprenorphine is excreted by the biliary system and enterohepatic circulation (Brewster et al. 1984)

Although few interaction studies of high-dose buprenorphine and antiretrovirals have been conducted (McCance-Katz EF et al. 2007), the effect of CYP3A inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics of low-dose buprenorphine is unknown. Because the use of buprenorphine in pain management is increasing after the introduction of transdermal buprenorphin patches to the market, it is clinically relevant to study and quantify possible interactions of buprenorphine with inhibitors of its CYP3A-mediated metabolism such as voriconazole.

This study is aimed to examine the possible interactions of oral buprenorphine with voriconazole.

Twelve male or female adult non-smoking subjects aged 18-40 years with body weights within ±15% of the ideal weight for height will be recruited for the study. The subjects will be submitted to physical examination, determination of previous or present chronic diseases, and comprehensive laboratory testing to ascertain that they are in good health. The subjects will fill in a modified Finnish version of the Abuse Questions (Michna et al. 2004) to assess their vulnerability for opioid abuse. Laboratory screening will include CBC (including hemoglobin, hematocrit, differential WBC, platelet count), SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, BUN and creatinine, and for women a pregnancy test. Urine will be screened for glucose, proteins and drugs with addiction potential. Blood pressure in sitting position must be within normal limits. Base line ECG must be normal.

Placebo and voriconazole should always be ingested with food, except the first dose on day 5.

On day 5, the challenge dose of 0.2 or 3.6. mg of oral buprenorphine (Temgesic, Schering-Plough) will be administered at 11.00, i.e. 1 h after the last dose of placebo or voriconazole. The dose is 3.6 mg after placebo and 0.2 mg after voriconazole. If necessary, naloxone (Naloxone B. Braun, Braun) will be given in sufficient doses to counteract the severe adverse effects of buprenorphine. For nausea and vomiting, intravenous tropisetron will used, if needed.

The volunteers will fast at least 8 h before the administration of buprenorphine and they will have a standard meal 4 h and 8 h afterwards. Ingestion of alcohol, coffee, tea, cola, energydrinks and grapefruit juice is not allowed during the test days, nor is smoking permitted.

The interval between the study phases will be four weeks.