Summary
The half-life of tolbutamide was investigated in 8 patients with persistent hypercapnia. Both the half-life and tolbutamide concentrations in the blood were significantly lower than in a group of healthy controls. The accelerated metabolism of tolbutamide implied by these observations is probably due to microsomal enzyme induction in the liver, caused both by the prolonged stress of difficulty in breathing and multiple drug treatment. The clinical significance of the findings is discussed.
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Sotaniemi, E., Arvela, P., Huhti, E. et al. Half-life of tolbutamide in patients with chronic respiratory failure. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 4, 29–31 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00568895
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00568895