Dose linearity and steady state pharmacokinetics of the new antiparkinson agent budipine after oral administration.

The dose-dependency of budipine pharmacokinetic characteristics was studied. Eighteen healthy male subjects were given 10, 20 and 30 mg oral single doses according to a randomized, open, 3-period crossover design. Additionally, the steady state conditions were investigated after repeated intake of 10 mg t.i.d for 10 days and compared to the 10 mg single dose. The area under the concentration vs time curve (AUC) and the maximum serum concentration (C max ) showed a linear increase in line with ascending doses of orally given budipine. Time to maximum serum concentration (t max ) and terminal half-life (t 1 2 ) were independent of the administered dose. As compared to the 10 mg single dose pharmacokinetics, the repeated oral administration of budipine 10 mg t.i.d. resulted in an increase in AUC of 11% and 93% for budipine and its metabolite p-OH-budipine, respectively. In clinical practice, a predictable response in proportion to the dose is to be expected.