Use of plasma levels in evaluation of procainamide dosage

Acetylator phenotype and the clinical pharmacology of slow-release procainamide

Slow-release procainamide given 8-hourly is shown to produce plasma levels generally accepted as giving effective prophylaxis against ventricular dysrhythmias occurring after recent myocardial infarction. Patients can be classified into 'slow' and 'fast' acetylators of procainamide. Knowledge of acetylator status is helpful in determining the dose of procainamide necessary to attain effective steady-state plasma levels while avoiding toxic ones. Acetylator status cannot be assessed accurately using sulphadimidine when the patients are also taking procainamide.

Serum drug concentrations in patients with ischemic heart disease after administration of a sustained release procainamide preparation

Despite widespread marketing of a sustained release preparation of procainamide hydrochloride (PROCAN-SR, Parke-Davis), published literature demonstrating its efficacy in maintaining uniform serum drug levels over a 6-hour dosing interval is derived from only normal healthy volunteers. Thirty-three patients with ischemic heart disease, ages 30-88 years, were administered 1-4g/24 hours (mean dose 34 mg/kg/day) of PROCAN-SR in 4 equally divided doses on a Q6H schedule. After achievement of steady-state equilibrium drug concentration, procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography on sera obtained from blood samples drawn 2, 3.5 and 5 hours after an oral dose. Mean maximal procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide serum concentrations were 4.6 +/- 1.8 microgram/ml and 4.2 +/- 2.1 micrograms/ml respectively. Mean minimal concentrations were 3.5 +/- 1.7 microgram/ml and 3.6 +/- 2.0 micrograms/ml respectively. The mean change in drug concentration was small (1.1 microgram/ml procainamide and 0.6 microgram/ml N-acetylprocainamide) with procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide concentrations varying only by 27 and 15 percent respectively. These data demonstrate in a population of patients with ischemic heart disease, that Q6H dosing with a sustained release procainamide hydrochloride preparation (PROCAN-SR, Parke-Davis) is associated with only a small acceptable variation between maximal and minimal serum procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide concentrations. This preparation should, therefore, offer greater patient convenience and compliance without sacrificing antiarrhythmic efficacy.

Absorption and antidysrhythmic activity of oral disopyramide phosphate after acute myocardial infarction

1 In a prophylactic, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial of oral disopyramide phosphate, initiated within 12 h of suspected acute myocardial infarction (MI), antidysrhythmic effect was evaluated. The loading dose was 150, 200, or 300 mg followed 6 h later by 100, 150, or 200 mg every 6 h for patients assessed to weigh <55, 55-85, or >85 kg, respectively. After each loading dose and a maintenance dose on one of days 4-7, 2 and 6 h venous blood samples were obtained for determination of plasma disopyramide and mono-N-dealkylated disopyramide (MND) concentrations (expressed herein as levels), by a technique incorporating fluorescence photometry and thin layer chromatography. Of 121 patients entering the trial, 101 had confirmed acute MI and of these, 12 on active drug were recalled during convalescence and restudied after a loading dose.

2 In acute MI patients on disopyramide phosphate, an important degree of antidysrhythmic effect was observed (on active drug and placebo, 19% v 37%, respectively (P = 0.047), received lignocaine for `warning arrhythmias'), even though in the first 6 h post-loading dose, disopyramide and MND levels were low and variable.

3 Disopyramide levels 2 h post-loading dose were lower in acute MI than in non-MI patients (P = 0.004), and similarly in the limited within patient study corresponding levels after acute MI were lower than during convalescence (P = 0.013). At 6 h post-loading dose, the levels had increased in acute MI patients but decreased in non-MI patients, this change being significantly different (P = 0.048). A similar significant difference existed in the limited within patient data available during acute MI and convalescence (P = 0.002).

4 Acute MI patients on active drug developing `warning arrhythmias' had lower post-loading dose, 2 and 6 h levels than in those without `warning arrhythmias' (P = 0.012 and P = 0.0002, respectively).

5 One patient who developed renal insufficiency developed excessive disopyramide levels.

6 On any given dose, there was no significant correlation between disopyramide level and body weight.

7 In acute MI patients given oral disopyramide phosphate (a) there was marked interindividual variation in the ensuing drug and metabolite levels, (b) absorption of disopyramide into the circulation was delayed, (c) prophylactic antidysrhythmic activity was present at levels of about 1.5 mg/l which is about half the minimal level recommended hitherto, (d) disopyramide accumulated in renal insufficiency, (e) elaborate dosage adjustments based on body weight are not useful.

A placebo-controlled study to determine the efficacy of oral disopyramide phosphate for the prophylaxis of ventricular dysrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction

1 To evaluate oral disopyramide phosphate in the prophylaxis of dysrhythmias occurring in acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients (presenting within 12 h of symptoms, age 21-70 years), a placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind, in hospital trial was conducted. After prognostic stratification (anterior and non-anterior MI at each of 4 regional hospitals) patients were randomly assigned to receive oral disopyramide phosphate (loading dose 150, 200, or 300 mg followed 6 h later by 100, 150, or 200 mg every 6 h for patients assessed to weigh less than 55, 55-85, or greater than 85 kg, respectively or matching placebo. The primary exclusion criteria were overt heart failure, systolic BP less than 100 mmHg, significant heart block or history of urinary retention. Active drug or placebo was continued for 7 days or until (a) detection of "warning arrhythmias' requiring i.v. lignocaine intervention (greater than 5 for 7 days or until (a) detection of "warning arrhythmias' requiring i.v. lignocaine intervention (greater than 5 premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)/min, R on T PVCs, multifocal PVCs, bigeminal PVCs, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) or (b) onset of exclusion criteria. In addition, plasma drug concentrations were determined and 24 h electrocardiographic tapes were obtained on day 1, and on one of days 4-7 but these results are not presented here. 2 Out of 121 patients entering the trial, 101 had confirmatory ECG and enzyme changes. Of these, 9 of 47 patients receiving disopyramide phosphate required lignocaine compared to 20 of 54 receiving placebo (19% v 37%; P = 0.047). Corresponding numbers for patients discontinuing trial medication for other non-fatal complications of MI were 5 and 3, and for those dying, were 3 (2 infarct extensions and 1 massive infarction), and 0, respectively. Respective numbers discontinuing trial medication for possible drug side effects (viz. urinary retention requiring catheterization) were 6 and 1 (P = 0.031). 3 In circumstances where i.v. therapy is deemed impractical, use of oral disopyramide phosphate given prophylactically in patients with acute MI may reduce the incidence of "warning arrhythmias' by a clinically significant extent.

The effectiveness of antiarrhythmic agents on early-cycle premature ventricular complexes

Twelve patients completed a double-blind, crossover antiarrhythmic drug trial in which 300 mg of quinidine, 500 mg of procainamide, 100 mg of phenytoin, or placebo was given four times daily on subsequent weeks. Analysis of 24-hour Holter tapes with a computerized analysis system (Argus/H) permitted accurate counting of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) subclassified according to coupling interval. No antiarrhythmic agent demonstrated a significant overall reduction in the number of PVCs, but both quinidine and procainamide showed a statistically significant (p less than 0.05) reduction of PVCs with coupling intervals less than 400 msec. This effect was noted both in isolated PVCs (quinidine only) and in PVCs that were part of a couplet or run (both drugs). These findings demonstrate that clinically important effects of procainamide and quinidine can occur in the absence of an overall reduction in the number of PVCs.

A pharmacokinetic comparison of two sustained-release oral procainamide preparations

1 The pharmacokinetics of two different sustained-release oral procainamide preparations were studied in ten hospital patients with normal blood ureas and no clinical evidence of heart failure. Each patient received either one or other preparation at 12 hourly intervals for four doses. Frequent blood sampling enabled close monitoring of blood levels. 2 Results showed that both preparations were essentially similar in their pharmacokinetics. Both effectively double the half-life of conventional oral procainamide to 6.5 h and are suitable as prophylactic preparations. One patient developed toxic levels, thought to be related to her metabolic status of being a very slow acetylator. To avoid toxicity pre-therapy assessment of a patient's cardiac and renal function and acetylator status is advised.

Microdetermination of procainamide in human serum

An electron-capture GLC method to measure procainamide (0.1-1 microgram/sample) in human serum was developed. An internal standard, p-amino-N-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]benzamide, is added to the serum before the sample is alkalinized with pH 10.5 phosphate buffer and extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate phase is evaporated to dryness, and the residue is reacted with pentafluoropropionic anhydride. N-Pentafluoropropionyl derivatives of the drug and the internal standard had retention times of 5 and 8 min, respectively, when chromatographed at 235 degrees on a 1-m (4-mm i.d.) glass column packed with 5% OV-17 (carrier gas flow of 40 ml/min). The coefficient of variation was less than 5% for spiked standards. Furthermore, N-acetylprocainamide added to samples did not interfere. One hundred and eighty-six samples from 16 patients receiving procainamide intravenously were assayed by this GLC procedure and by a standard colorimetric method. Linear regression analysis yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.985 (slope, 1.040; intercept, 0.015).

Adverse reactions to procainamide

1 Data from a comprehensive drug surveillance programme are analysed to provide details of procainamide use and toxicity in medical wards of teaching hospitals in five countries. 2 Out of a total of 488 recipients 9.2% had one or more adverse effect attributed to the drug; common effects being arrhythmias, gastro-intestinal upsets and drug fever. Although occasionally of major severity, no patient died as a consequence of procainamide toxicity. 3 Toxicity was directly related to total daily dose and duration of hospitalization but was not related to age, weight of the patient or presenting urea or albumin concentrations.

Maintenance therapy with a new retard tablet preparation of procainamide

The procainamide plasma concentration was followed during maintenance therapy with a new procainamide retard tablet preparation in 23 hospitalized patients suffering from acute or chronic coronary heart disease with complicating ventricular arrhythmias. After initial individually adjusted treatment with Pronestyl every third hour, either orally or intramuscularly, for at least eight dose intervals, the retard tablets were given at 6 hour intervals for 2 to 12 days, or more. In 19 patients with no major fluctuations in their circulatory or renal state, adequate and relatively stable plasma procainamide concentration was obtained upon a constant dose of the retard preparation. On an average, the difference from minimum to maximum concentration was 55 per cent within the 6 hour dose intervals. In four patients with unstable circulation and/or renal function, procainamide therapy had to be disrupted in two because of severe side effects and toxic concentrations, and the dose was adjusted in the remaining two. It is concluded that the formulation of procainamide tablet preparations has simplified procainamide therapy within and outside hospital and improved our possibilities to perform short-and long-term studies on the risk/ benefit ratio of procainamide treatment in patients with severe ventricular arrhythmias.

Procainamide absorption studies to test the feasibility of using a sustained-release preparation

Using in vitro techniques it was confirmed that whilst the release of procainamide from the conventional formulation (Pronestyl) was rapid, that from the sustained-release preparation (Cardiorytmin Retard) occurred over a prolonged period. 2 The peak plasma procainamide concentrations after single doses of Cardiorytmin Retard were relatively lower and occurred later than those after single doses of Pronestyl. Furthermore, after reaching a peak, the fall in plasma procainamide concentration was less rapid after the sustained-release preparation. Early urinary recovery of procainamide in patients and in healthy volunteers was greater after Pronestyl than after Cardiorytmin Retard, though overall recovery in urine was similar. These findings indicate that the absorption of the sustained-release preparation is slower, though the overall bioavailabilities of the two preparations are almost the same. 3 These results confirm the feasibility of using a sustained-release procainamide preparation, such as Cardiorytmin Retard, since it would be possible to administer the same amount of drug in fewer daily doses without plasma concentrations becoming ineffective towards the end of each dosing interval.

GLC determination of procainamide in biological fluids

A GLC method for the determination of procainamide in biological fluids is presented. By using a dipropyl analog of procainamide as an internal standard, both compounds can be chromatographed directly, yielding linear calibration curves and a sensitivity that allows quantitative determination of concentrations as low as 0.1 mug/ml. The extraction procedure was carefully modified to avoid hydrolysis of N-acetylprocainamide, a major metabolite of procainamide. The usefulness of the procedure is demonstrated by following the disappearance of procainamide from the plasma and urine of human subjects treated with the drug.