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Sufentanil disposition. Is it affected by erythromycin administration?
R R Bartkowski1, M E Goldberg, S Huffnagle
1Department of Anesthesiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-5092.
Background:
Because oral erythromycin administration has been associated with reduced elimination of alfentanil, suspicion has been raised about related opioids with similar metabolic pathways. A controlled crossover study of sufentanil pharmacokinetics was undertaken to resolve this issue.
Methods:
Six subjects had measurements of plasma concentrations for 9 h after intravenous administration of sufentanil (3 micrograms/kg). Each subject was studied following no erythromycin (control) and after 1- and 7-day courses of erythromycin base.
Results:
Plasma concentrations during the 9 h of measurement were similar before and after erythromycin. Terminal half-life and clearance and distribution volume did not change significantly among treatment groups. Values measured after 7 days of erythromycin were similar to controls.
Conclusions:
Prior administration of erythromycin does not alter pharmacokinetics of sufentanil in the 9 h following sufentanil administration. Thus, there are no apparent clinical consequences of prior or concomitant erythromycin administration in patients receiving sufentanil for procedures of 9 h or less.