Pharmacokinetics of oral disopyramide phosphate in patients with renal impairment

1 The pharmacokinetics of disopyramide were studied after the oral administration of a 300 mg dose to 11 patients with stable chronic renal impairment (creatinine clearance 2-53 ml min-1). 2 Absorption half-life and volume of distribution were similar to those seen in normal subjects. 3 Mean plasma elimination half-life in these patients was 12.7 h, which is substantially greater than that reported for normal subjects. Elimination half-life tended to increase as creatinine clearance fell, and renal clearance of disopyramide correlated significantly (r=0.814; P < 0.001) with creatinine clearance. 4 From these results, we have calculated that patients with renal impairment should be started on a dose of disopyramide 1.5 mg kg-1 thrice daily and the regimen subsequently altered according to plasma concentrations of the drug. However, further studies are needed to define the handling of the metabolites of disopyramide.