Effect of urinary pH on the plasma and urinary kinetics of remoxipride in man

The influence of urinary pH on the plasma and urinary kinetics of remoxipride in man has been studied in an open crossover trial in ten healthy male volunteers. Ammonium chloride (urinary pH 5.2) and sodium hydrogen carbonate (urinary pH 7.8) were used as pretreatments on two occasions in randomized order. On each occasion remoxipride 50 mg solution was administered orally and plasma and urinary concentrations of the drug were determined by HPLC and plasma prolactin concentrations by RIA. Remoxipride was rapidly distributed in the body according to a one-compartment model. The mean plasma elimination half-life (t1/2) was 3.6 h in the ammonium chloride experiment and 6.2 h in the sodium hydrogen carbonate experiment. The mean plasma clearance of remoxipride was 141 and 89.9 ml.min-1 in the acidic and alkaline conditions, respectively, and the corresponding mean renal clearances were 58.5 ml.min-1 and 11.7 ml.min-1. The urinary excretion of remoxipride up to 72 h after drug administration was 43.1% and 12.3% following acidification and alkalinization, respectively. Remoxipride induced a similar rapid, transient elevation of plasma prolactin under both conditions. Thus, the urinary pH has a marked effect on the elimination kinetics of remoxipride. After an overdose, treatment with ammonium chloride might be valuable in hastening elimination of remoxipride from the body.