Article date: February 1991
By: E. Magueur, H. Hagege, P. Attali, E. Singlas, JP Etienne, AM Taburet, in Volume 31, Issue 2, pages 185-187
The pharmacokinetics of metoclopramide were investigated after intravenous and oral administration in eight patients with severe alcoholic cirrhosis and in eight healthy volunteers. As a consequence of a 50% lower clearance (0.16 +/‐ 0.07 vs 0.34 +/‐ 0.09 l h‐1 kg‐1, plasma drug concentrations and the half‐life of metoclopramide were greater in patients following both routes of drug administration. Volume of distribution (3.1 +/‐ 0.8 vs 3.4 +/‐ 1.2 l kg‐1) and absolute bioavailability (79 +/‐ 19 vs 84 +/‐ 15%) were similar in the two groups. The adverse effects of metoclopramide observed in patients with marked hepatic impairment are likely to result from increased accumulation of the drug as a result of impaired clearance. Consequently a reduction in dose of 50% is recommended in patients with severe liver cirrhosis.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1991.tb05511.x
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