Effect of ethanol intake on disopyramide elimination by healthy volunteers

The effect of ethanol intake on disopyramide elimination was examined in an open crossover study in six healthy volunteers. No effect of ethanol on the elimination half-life or total body clearance of disopyramide was found, although it did decrease the percentage of mono-N-dealkylated disopyramide excreted in the urine (p less than 0.05) as well as the relative metabolic clearance of disopyramide (p less than 0.05). The renal clearance of disopyramide was increased by 19 +/- 16% (p less than 0.05) in subjects in whom ethanol caused a diuresis.