Effect of cimetidine and ranitidine on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a single dose of dofetilide

ABSTRACT

Aims The aim of this open-label, placebo-controlled, randomized, four-period crossover study was to determine the effects of cimetidine and ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a single dose of dofetilide.

Methods Twenty healthy male subjects received 100 or 400  mg twice daily of cimetidine, 150  mg twice daily of ranitidine, or placebo for 4 days. On the second day, a single oral 500  μg dose of dofetilide was administered immediately after the morning doses of cimetidine, ranitidine, or placebo. Treatment periods were separated by 1–2 weeks. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined from plasma and urinary dofetilide concentrations; prolongation of the QTc interval was determined from three-lead electrocardiograms.

Results Ranitidine did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of dofetilide; however, a dose-dependent increase in exposure to dofetilide was observed with cimetidine. When dofetilide was administered with 100 and 400  mg of cimetidine, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of dofetilide increased by 11% and 48% and the maximum plasma dofetilide concentration increased by 11% and 29%, respectively. The respective cimetidine doses reduced renal clearance of dofetilide by 13% and 33% and nonrenal clearance by 5% and 21%. Dofetilide-induced prolongation of the QTc interval was enhanced by cimetidine; the mean maximum change in QTc interval from baseline was increased by 22% and 33% with 100 and 400  mg of cimetidine, respectively. However, the relationship between the prolongation of the QTc interval and plasma dofetilide concentrations was unaffected by cimetidine or ranitidine; a 1  ng  ml⁻¹ increase in plasma dofetilide concentration produced a 17–19  ms prolongation of the QTc interval. Dofetilide was well tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse events or laboratory abnormalities.

Conclusions These results suggest that cimetidine increased dofetilide exposure by inhibiting renal tubular dofetilide secretion, whereas ranitidine did not. This effect is not an H₂-receptor antagonist class effect but is specific to cimetidine. If therapy with an H₂-receptor antagonist is required, it is recommended that cimetidine at all doses be avoided; since ranitidine has no effect on dofetilide pharmacokinetics or prolongation of the QTc interval, it can be seen as a suitable alternative.