Plasma pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered atropine in normal human subjects

The pharmacokinetics of atropine (dl-hyoscyamine) was studied in six normal volunteers following a single 1-mg intravenous dose of atropine. Atropine plasma levels were collected for 24 hours and analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Pulse rates were monitored and compared with predose values in each subject. Atropine plasma concentrations were fitted by least-squares regression analysis. The observed maximal increase in pulse rate, at 12 to 16 minutes after the dose, correlated with the maximum predicted tissue levels of atropine based on the computer fit of the plasma atropine concentration-time data. No correlation between the time of maximum response and atropine plasma concentrations was observed. The average half-life of atropine was 4.125 hours. This data may be used to design a multiple-dosing regimen for intravenous atropine in patients.