Tolerance and pharmacokinetics of oral fendiline

Two studies with healthy volunteers were carried out to correlate safety with pharmacokinetics of the calcium antagonistic drug N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-(1-phenylethyl)-amine (fendiline, Sensit) after single and multiple oral doses. In the first study single doses of 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, and 1200 mg of fendiline hydrochloride were administered to 6 subjects per dose level. 3 additional subjects per dose level received placebo. No significant objective or subjective effects were noted in the dose range studied. The pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that doses higher than 800 mg were absorbed incompletely. In the second study initially 400 mg twice daily was given to 9 subjects. 3 additional subjects received placebo. Due to subjective intolerability (trembling, dizziness) after 5 days, the dose was reduced stepwise to 2 X 200 mg and was then continued for another 19 days. The pharmacokinetic evaluation revealed manifold interindividual differences in plasma levels for maximal concentrations (9-170 ng/ml) as well as for minimal concentrations (4-96 ng/ml). The absorption profile in both studies has linear and nonlinear components. Maximal plasma levels were reached after about 4 h. Terminal elimination half-lives were about 20 h.