Pharmacokinetics of [14C]omeprazole in patients with liver cirrhosis

The pharmacokinetics of omeprazole and its metabolites following single doses were studied in 8 patients with liver cirrhosis. Each patient participated in 2 experiments in which [14C]omeprazole was administered either intravenously (20mg) or in an oral solution (40mg) in a randomised crossover design. Plasma concentrations of omeprazole and 2 of its identified metabolites, as well as total radioactivity were followed for 24h; urinary excretion was followed for 96h. The mean elimination half-life of omeprazole in the patients with cirrhosis was 2.8h and the mean total plasma clearance was 67 ml/min (4.02 L/h); corresponding values from separate studies in young healthy volunteers were 0.7h and 594 ml/min (35.64 L/h). The mean systemic availability was nearly 100% in the patients with cirrhosis whereas the previously reported value in young volunteers was only 56%. Almost 80% of a given dose was excreted as urinary metabolites in both patients and young volunteers. It is concluded that, as the hepatic clearance of omeprazole was substantially reduced in these patients, the dose of omeprazole needed for a certain degree of acid suppression is lower in patients with liver cirrhosis.