The effects of cimetidine upon the plasma pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin in rabbits.

Cimetidine is an H2 antagonist which inhibits cytochrome P-450 and reduces hepatic blood flow. To determine whether cimetidine interferes with the plasma pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin, we gave six female New Zealand rabbits doxorubicin 3 mg/kg, followed a month later by cimetidine 120 mg/kg every 12 h over 72 h and doxorubicin 3 mg/kg. Serial plasma specimens were obtained over 72 h and assayed for doxorubicin and its metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. Doxorubicin plasma pharmacokinetics were prolonged after cimetidine pretreatment [AUC 0.76 +/- 0.22 vs. 2.85 +/- 1.22 microM X h, no pretreatment vs pretreatment (p = 0.005), half-life = 11.7 +/- 6.55 vs 28.0 +/- 8.16 h (P = 0.0002), and clearance = 0.129 +/- 0.036 vs 0.036 +/- 0.011 l/min-1 kg-1 (P = 0.0007)]. No significant differences were found between the AUCs for doxorubicinol, 7-deoxy doxorubicinol aglycone, or two unidentified nonpolar metabolites in nonpretreatment and pretreatment studies. Cimetidine increases and prolongs the plasma exposure to doxorubicin in rabbits. Doxorubicin metabolism does not appear to be affected by cimetidine.