The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
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J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Sep 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPharmacogenetic determination of the effects of codeine and prediction of drug interactions.
To define the differences in codeine pharmacodynamics in extensive (EMs) and poor (PMs) metabolizers of debrisoquin and to determine whether the inhibition of codeine's metabolism by quinidine produces phenotypically dependent pharmacodynamic changes, we studied 16 healthy nonsmoking males, 10 EMs and 6 PMs of debrisoquin. The subjects received in random double-blind fashion 120 mg of codeine plus placebo, 120 mg of codeine plus 100 mg of quinidine and 100 mg of quinidine plus placebo. Blood was obtained over 24 hr and urine was collected for 48 hr. ⋯ Thus, CYP2D6 mediated O-demethylation of codeine to morphine is central to its pharmacodynamic effects. Patients who lack CYP2D6 or whose CYP2D6 is inhibited would not be expected to benefit from codeine. Thus, phenotyping for CYP2D6 and the avoidance of CYP2D6 inhibitors is justified in patients with chronic path before initiating long-term therapy with analgesics whose in vivo activation is dependent on CYP2D6 activity (i.e., codeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone.