• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 1989

To evaluate disposition characteristics of procainamide and its active metabolite, N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA), cross-over study for procainamide and NAPA was performed in 5 male adult dogs. After single administration of 10 mg/kg procainamide over 15 minutes, the range of measured plasma NAPA concentrations during experimental period were 0.03 to 0.124 ug/ml and early 'dip' phenomenon was distinct on NAPA concentration to time curve in all 5 dogs. Volume of distribution (Vss) and central compartment volume (Vc) of procainamide were $1.20{\pm}0.27\;L/kg$ of body weight and $0.36{\pm}0.08\;L/kg$, respectively. Vss and Vc of NAPA were $1.21{\pm}0.21\;L/kg$ and $0.26{\pm}0.07\;L/kg$, respectively. Intercompartmental clearance (Clint) of procainamide was 3.44 L/kg/hr and that of NAPA was 1.62 L/kg/hr. Total body clearance (Cl) of procainamide and NAPA were $0.47{\pm}0.08$ and $0.35{\pm}0.08\;L/kg/hr$. The half-life $(t_{1/2{\beta}})$ of procainamide and NAPA were 2.85 hrs and 2.77 hrs, respectively. Metabolic clearance (Clm)of procainamide by N-acetylation was $18.24{\pm}6.22\;ml/kg/hr$, which corresponded to 3.9% of total procainamide clearance.