Variability of beta-blocker pharmacokinetics in young volunteers

Plasma concentrations of metoprolol, propranolol oxprenolol, acebutolol and its metabolite diacetolol were measured after single oral doses in young health volunteers. In order to assessed the inter- and intra-subject variability the following pharmacokinetic parameters were compared: AUC0(24), Cmax, tmax and t 1/2. The smallest variation in inter-subject variability was seen with oxprenolol and acebutolol: intrasubject variability was more uniform. Female volunteers taking an oral contraceptive generally had higher AUC0(24) and Cmax values than those not. This finding reached statistical significance only for metoprolol AUC0(24).