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Pharmacopsychiatry 2016; 49(05): 177-181
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-103329
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Population Pharmacokinetics of Lithium Carbonate in Young Male Healthy Chinese Volunteers

W. Yu   *
1   Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
X. Sun   *
1   Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Y. Li
1   Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
M. Li
2   Department of Pharmacometrics, Center for Drug Clinical Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
K. Wang
2   Department of Pharmacometrics, Center for Drug Clinical Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
H. Li
1   Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 13 August 2015
revised 06 February 2016

accepted 09 February 2016

Publication Date:
28 April 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Aim: To investigate the population pharmacokinetics (PK) model of lithium carbonate in young male healthy Chinese subjects.

Methods: This study was conducted using a 2-period crossover design. 20 healthy male subjects received lithium carbonate tablets from 2 different Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturers. Plasma samples were obtained by blood sampling over 72 h in each period. Population PK analysis was performed using nonlinear mixed-effects model (NONMEM) software. The final models were validated using bootstrap and visual predictive check (VPC) approaches.

Results: The final PK model was a two-compartment model. The population PK parameters, clearance (CL/F), apparent distribution volume of the central compartment (V2/F), inter-compartmental clearance (Q/F) and apparent distribution volume of the peripheral compartment (V3/F), were 9.39 L/h, 10.4 L, 22.1 L/h, and 216 L, respectively.

Conclusion: Population PK models for lithium carbonate have been developed and considerable inter-subject variability was found in healthy young male Chinese subjects. It takes a long time to achieve the steady state in conventional therapy. This may provide guidelines for future use of lithium carbonate in China.

Key words

lithium - healthy young male chinese subjects - population pharmacokinetics

* These authors contributed equally to this paper.


 

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