Alcohol and bupropion pharmacokinetics in healthy male volunteers

A study was performed to determine whether there is a pharmacokinetic interaction between alcohol and the novel antidepressant bupropion. In the first part 8 healthy male volunteers received single doses of 100 mg bupropion hydrochloride orally on 2 occasions accompanied by either ethanol in orange or plain orange drink according to a balanced cross over design. Plasma bupropion concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay and kinetics analysed with the aid of NONLIN. Blood alcohol levels were assessed by breathalyser. The disposition of bupropion was adequately described by a 2 compartment model and kinetic parameters were not significantly altered by the presence of alcohol. In the second part of the study the same subjects received 40 ml ethanol in orange drink 3.5 h after ingestion of 100 mg bupropion or dummy tablet in a double blind cross over fashion. Bupropion did not affect alcohol kinetics. In contrast to many other psychotropic drugs there is no evidence for a kinetic interaction between bupropion and alcohol.