[Effects of prostaglandin E1 on vecuronium and fentanyl pharmacokinetics in humans]

The effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on pharmacokinetics of vecuronium and fentanyl were studied during anesthesia. Pharmacokinetic parameters of these drugs were obtained by using two-compartment open model and population pharmacokinetics. Significant increases of Vdss, Vp, and k12 in the pharmacokinetic parameters of vecuronium were observed with 0.024-0.025 microgram.kg-1.min-1 of PGE1. The results demonstrate that PGE1 accelerates the drug transport to peripheral tissues. However, there are no significant changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of fentanyl with the same dose of PGE1. This difference in the effect of PGE1 on the drug transport to peripheral compartment between vecuronium and fentanyl may be due to the essential large peripheral distribution of fentanyl.