Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles for metoprolol have been measured in six healthy volunteers after single and multiple dosing with 100 mg conventional formulation twice daily and 200 mg slow-release formulation once daily. Both multidose regimes produced measurable predosing plasma concentrations of metoprolol. The plasma concentrations on the eighth day were greater than predicted by the single-dose data as indicated by the comparison of the total areas under the curve for the single dose and the dosage interval areas during multiple dosing. This increase may be associated with a change in the bioavailability and/or clearance of the drug and is currently being investigated. The peak concentrations for the two regimens were comparable but the times to peak with the slow-release regimen were significantly delayed. Both regimes produced significant beta-blocking effects over 24 h during multiple dosing, the reductions in exercise heart rate at 0 and 24 h on the eighth day corresponding to more than 20 of the maximum effect. Resting pulse rates and blood pressures were affected to a similar extent by the two regimens but neither significantly altered respiratory peak flow rates. The effects during multiple dosing were generally greater than those after a single dose and appeared to follow a more consistent trend. This observation, together with those for the plasma level data on the eighth day, illustrate the importance of performing multiple-dose studies in assessing beta-blocking drugs.
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