Lötsch J, Weiss M, Kobal G, Geisslinger G. Pharmacokinetics of morphine-6-glucuronide and its formation from morphine after intravenous administration.
Clin Pharmacol Ther 1998;
63:629-39. [PMID:
9663177 DOI:
10.1016/s0009-9236(98)90086-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Morphine-6-beta-glucuronide is a primary morphine metabolite with potent opioid action. However, its low and slow brain permeability eventually prevents its central opioid effects after short-term intravenous administration. Research is needed to establish whether morphine-6-beta-glucuronide qualifies as an analgesic; this study provides the pharmacokinetic bases for such studies.
METHODS
Plasma concentration-time data of morphine-6-beta-glucuronide and morphine obtained from 20 healthy volunteers after short-term intravenous administration of either morphine-6-beta-glucuronide or morphine were described by a biexponential disposition curve. Disposition parameters of morphine-6-beta-glucuronide and morphine were estimated by nonlinear regression, and basic pharmacokinetic parameters (clearance, volume of distribution at steady state, and mean disposition residence time) were derived. A new model of metabolite kinetics was applied, and the disposition parameters of morphine and morphine-6-beta-glucuronide were then used to fit the plasma concentration-time profile of morphine-6-beta-glucuronide formed from morphine. Thereby the fraction of morphine metabolized to morphine-6-beta-glucuronide and the mean transit time of morphine across the site of metabolism were estimated.
RESULTS
The extent and time course of morphine-6-beta-glucuronide formation from morphine could be well described by a parametric model, with a fraction of morphine metabolized to morphine-6-beta-glucuronide of 7.55% +/- 1.24% and a mean metabolic transit time for morphine to morphine-6-beta-glucuronide of 0.28 +/- 0.21 hour. The underlying disposition of morphine and morphine-6-beta-glucuronide was characterized by clearance (morphine clearance, 32.7 +/- 6 ml.min-1.kg-1, morphine-6-beta-glucuronide clearance, 2.2 +/- 0.4 ml.min-1.kg-1), volume of distribution at steady state (morphine, 1.8 +/- 0.3 L.hr-1; morphine-6-beta-glucuronide, 0.12 +/- 0.02 L.hr-1), and mean disposition residence time (morphine, 1.8 +/- 0.4 hours; morphine-6-beta-glucuronide, 1.7 +/- 0.4 hours).
CONCLUSIONS
The time course of morphine-6-beta-glucuronide formation kinetics was analyzed with use of the information on the disposition kinetics of both morphine and preformed morphine-6-beta-glucuronide, which was obtained by separate data fits. The transformation of morphine to morphine-6-beta-glucuronide could be described by two parameters characterizing the extent and delay of metabolite formation. The results of this study will serve as pharmacokinetic bases of future investigations of morphine-6-beta-glucuronide in human beings.
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