BLOOD-PRESSURE AND PHARMACOKINETICS IN COMBINATION THERAPY WITH CYCLOSPORINE AND NITRENDIPINE

Effects of nitrendipine on hemodynamics and on ciclosporine pharmacokinetics were studied in 6 patients with terminal renal failure. Kinetic parameters were calculated after a single oral dose of 20 mg nitrendipine, a single oral dose of 120 mg ciclosporine and after concomitant therapy. Steady-state blood levels were determined after a 6 days' oral treatment with 20 mg nitrendipine twice daily or 120 mg ciclosporine twice daily or after concomitant therapy. Blood pressure was measured before the blood samples for the concentration-time curves were collected and compared with the blood pressure during the last four weeks before treatment. The concomitant therapy shortened the t(max), for ciclosporine this effect was significant (1.6 h versus 2.4 h; p <0,05). The AUC and the C(max) of both drugs did not change statistically significant. At the time of C(max) for ciclosporine, the blood pressure was significantly higher than before treatment (158/93 versus 149/83 mmHg; p <0.05). The simultaneous administration of nitrendipine was able to compensate for this effect.