Steady-state intravenous pharmacokinetics of pirenzepine in patients with differing degrees of renal dysfunction

The steady-state intravenous pharmacokinetics of pirenzepine has been investigated in 57 subjects whose renal function ranged from normal to chronic failure requiring regular haemodialysis. Pirenzepine renal clearance, total clearance and terminal (dominant) half-life were found to be correlated with the creatinine clearance (CLCR), but this was not the case for the volume of distribution and the nonrenal clearance. The therapeutic regimen was well tolerated by all subjects. Haemodialysis did not significantly contribute to the elimination of pirenzepine. Dosage adjustment need only be considered in patients with CLCR less than 25 ml/min in order to reduce the frequency of minor side-effects.