RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Inhibition of carbamazepine metabolism by cimetidine. JF Drug Metabolism and Disposition JO Drug Metab Dispos FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 204 OP 208 VO 12 IS 2 A1 D M Grasela A1 M L Rocci, Jr YR 1984 UL http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/12/2/204.abstract AB The effect of cimetidine on the single dose pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine was examined in nine male Sprague-Dawley rats after the administration of a 25 mg/kg iv dose of carbamazepine. Five rats received a concomitant 50 mg/kg iv dose of cimetidine. Concomitant cimetidine administration produced a decrease in carbamazepine clearance (liters/hr/kg) (0.68 +/- 0.037 vs. 0.41 +/- 0.091; p less than 0.002) which was accompanied by an increase in carbamazepine half-life (hr) (1.1 +/- 0.16 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.37; p less than 0.003). No cimetidine-induced alterations in the volume of distribution at steady-state (liters/kg) occurred (1.1 +/- 0.14 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.04; NS). A reduction in the partial area under the plasma concentration-time curve for carbamazepine-10, 11-epoxide (mg X hr/liter) (28 +/- 2.5 vs. 18 +/- 3.7; p less than 0.002) with cimetidine treatment suggests that a portion of the reduction in carbamazepine clearance may be the result of cimetidine-induced inhibition of epoxide formation. The effect of cimetidine on epoxide formation was further substantiated using an in vitro rat liver homogenate preparation where inhibition of epoxide formation by cimetidine occurred in a dose-dependent fashion.