Abstract
Background
Certain foods, such as grapefruit juice, are known to substantially alter the bioavailability of some drugs. These effects may be mediated by interactions with enzyme systems, such as cytochrome P450, or with active transporter systems, such as P-glycoprotein and organic anion transporting polypeptides.
Objective
To assess the effect of consumption of grapefruit juice on the oral bioavailability of two nonsedating antihistamines, fexofenadine and desloratadine.
Design
Non-blinded, randomised, single-dose, four-way crossover study.
Participants
Twenty-four healthy adult volunteers.
Interventions
Single oral doses of desloratadine 5mg and fexofenadine 60mg taken without and with grapefruit juice (pretreatment with 240ml of double-strength juice three times daily for 2 days prior to administration of study drug, plus the same amount simultaneously with, and 2 hours after, the drug dose). Each treatment was separated by at least 10 days.
Main Outcome Measures
Log-transformed pharmacokinetic parameters [peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC)], time to maximum concentration, elimination half-life and electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters.
Results
Comparing the ratio of the pharmacokinetic parameter means (Cmax and AUC) with and without grapefruit juice (expressed as a percentage), the rate (Cmax) and extent (AUC) of absorption of fexofenadine were reduced by 30% by consumption of grapefruit juice. In contrast, the bioavailability of desloratadine was unaffected by grapefruit juice. No clinically significant changes in ECG parameters were observed following coadministration of grapefruit juice with desloratadine or fexofenadine compared with either antihistamine given alone.
Conclusion
The bioavailability of drugs that do not undergo significant intestinal or hepatic metabolism, such as fexofenadine, may be altered when administered with agents that influence drug transport mechanisms.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a research grant from Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA.
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Banfield, C., Gupta, S., Marino, M. et al. Grapefruit Juice Reduces the Oral Bioavailability of Fexofenadine But Not Desloratadine. Clin Pharmacokinet 41, 311–318 (2002). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003088-200241040-00004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003088-200241040-00004