Pharmacokinetic studies in man of the selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, prenalterol

The pharmacokinetics of prenalterol, a selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, has been studied in healthy subjects, by following the plasma concentration and urinary excretion of the unchanged compound and its total radioactive metabolites after oral and intravenous administration. Each of six healthy subjects received a single i.v. dose (2.5 mg) and three oral doses (2.5, 5.0 and 10 mg) of prenalterol. The oral dose was administered as a solution. Three of the subjects received the intravenous and oral doses of 2.5 mg as tritiated drug. Prenalterol was rapidly and completely absorbed after oral administration. The peak plasma concentration was attained after about 0.5 h. About 25% of prenalterol reached the systemic circulation. Prenalterol was extensively distributed to extravascular tissues with a half-life of the distribution phase close to 7 min. About 90% of the dose was excreted in urine within 24 h irrespective of the route of administration, indicating complete absorption of the drug. On average 60% of the i.v. and 13% of the oral doses were excreted as unchanged drug. The elimination half-life of the compound was 1.8 h, and the decline in the plasma concentration of the metabolites indicated a slower elimination rate than for the unchanged drug. Dose-dependent kinetics were not observed after the oral doses examined.