Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Diltiazem and Atorvastatin in Rats

흰쥐에서 아톨바스타틴과 딜티아젬의 약물동태학적 상호작용

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem (15 mg/kg) after oral administration of diltiazem with or without atorvastatin (0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg) in rats. Coadministration of atorvastatin increased significantly (p<0.05, 3.0 mg/kg) the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and the peak concentration $(C_{max})$ of diltiazem compared to the control group. The total plasma clearance (CL/F) of diltiazem was decreased significantly (p<0.05, 3.0 mg/kg) compared to the control group. The relative bioavailability (RB%) of diltiazem was increased from 1.14- to 1.49-fold. Coadministration of atorvastatin did not significantly change the elimination rate constant $(K_{el})$, terminal half-life $(T_{1/2})$ and the time to reach the peak concentration $(T_{max})$ of diltiazem. Based on these results, we can make a conclusion that the significant changes of these pharmacokinetic parameters might be due to atorvastatin, which possesses the potency to inhibit the metabolizing enzyme (CYP3A4) in the liver and intestinal mucosa, and also inhibit the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux pump in the intestinal mucosa.