Alprazolam kinetics in patients with renal insufficiency

Alprazolam kinetics following a single 1.0-mg oral dose of alprazolam were compared between seven dialysis-dependent patients with chronic renal failure and seven healthy controls matched for age, sex, and weight. There were no significant differences between patients and controls in alprazolam half-life (11.5 vs. 11.3 hours) or clearance of total drug (1.14 vs. 1.26 ml/min/kg). However, alprazolam free fraction was increased in renal failure patients (35.7% vs. 31.9% unbound, p less than 0.005). Free clearance of alprazolam averaged 23% lower in patients (3.2 vs. 4.1 ml/min/kg), but the difference was not significant. Renal insufficiency has a quantitatively small influence on alprazolam pharmacokinetics.