Absorption
Omeprazole delayed-release capsules contain an enteric-coated granule formulation of omeprazole (because omeprazole is acid-labile), so that absorption of omeprazole begins only after the granules leave the stomach. Absorption is rapid, with peak plasma levels of omeprazole occurring within 0.5 to 3.5 hours. Peak plasma concentrations of omeprazole and AUC are approximately proportional to doses up to 40 mg, but because of a saturable first-pass effect, a greater than linear response in peak plasma concentration and AUC occurs with doses greater than 40 mg.
Absolute bioavailability (compared with intravenous administration) is about 30 to 40% at doses of 20 to 40 mg, due in large part to presystemic metabolism. In healthy subjects the plasma half-life is 0.5 to 1 hour, and the total body clearance is 500 to 600 mL/min.
The bioavailability of omeprazole increases slightly upon repeated administration of omeprazole delayed-release capsules.
Omeprazole delayed-release capsule 40 mg was bioequivalent when administered with and without applesauce. However, omeprazole delayed-release capsule 20 mg was not bioequivalent when administered with and without applesauce. When administered with applesauce, a mean 25% reduction in C was observed without a significant change in AUC for omeprazole delayed-release capsule 20 mg. The clinical relevance of this finding is unknown.
max
Distribution
Protein binding is approximately 95%.
Metabolism
Omeprazole is extensively metabolized by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system.
Excretion
Following single dose oral administration of a buffered solution of omeprazole, little if any unchanged drug was excreted in urine. The majority of the dose (about 77%) was eliminated in urine as at least six metabolites. Two were identified as hydroxyomeprazole and the corresponding carboxylic acid. The remainder of the dose was recoverable in feces. This implies a significant biliary excretion of the metabolites of omeprazole. Three metabolites have been identified in plasma - the sulfide and sulfone derivatives of omeprazole, and hydroxyomeprazole. These metabolites have very little or no antisecretory activity.
Combination Therapy with Antimicrobials
Omeprazole 40 mg daily was given in combination with clarithromycin 500 mg every 8 hours to healthy adult male subjects. The steady state plasma concentrations of omeprazole were increased (C , AUC , and T increases of 30%, 89% and 34% respectively) by the concomitant administration of clarithromycin. The observed increases in omeprazole plasma concentration were associated with the following pharmacological effects. The mean 24-hour gastric pH value was 5.2 when omeprazole was administered alone and 5.7 when co-administered with clarithromycin.
max0-241/2
The plasma levels of clarithromycin and 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin were increased by the concomitant administration of omeprazole. For clarithromycin, the mean C was 10% greater, the mean C was 27% greater, and the mean AUC was 15% greater when clarithromycin was administered with omeprazole than when clarithromycin was administered alone. Similar results were seen for 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin, the mean C was 45% greater, the mean C was 57% greater, and the mean AUC was 45% greater. Clarithromycin concentrations in the gastric tissue and mucus were also increased by concomitant administration of omeprazole.
maxmin0-8maxmin0-8
Table 2 Clarithromycin Tissue Concentrations 2 hours after Dose
1| Tissue | Clarithromycin | Clarithromycin + Omeprazole |
|---|
Antrum | 10.48 ± 2.01 (n = 5) | 19.96 ± 4.71 (n = 5) |
Fundus | 20.81 ± 7.64 (n = 5) | 24.25 ± 6.37 (n = 5) |
Mucus | 4.15 ± 7.74 (n = 4) | 39.29 ± 32.79 (n = 4) |
Mean ± SD (mcg/g)
1
Concomitant Use with Clopidogrel
In a crossover clinical study, 72 healthy subjects were administered clopidogrel (300 mg loading dose followed by 75 mg per day) alone and with omeprazole (80 mg at the same time as clopidogrel) for 5 days. The exposure to the active metabolite of clopidogrel was decreased by 46% (Day 1) and 42% (Day 5) when clopidogrel and omeprazole were administered together.
Results from another crossover study in healthy subjects showed a similar pharmacokinetic interaction between clopidogrel (300 mg loading dose/75 mg daily maintenance dose) and omeprazole 80 mg daily when co-administered for 30 days. Exposure to the active metabolite of clopidogrel was reduced by 41% to 46% over this time period.
In another study, 72 healthy subjects were given the same doses of clopidogrel and 80 mg omeprazole but the drugs were administered 12 hours apart; the results were similar, indicating that administering clopidogrel and omeprazole at different times does not prevent their interaction.
Concomitant Use with Mycophenolate Mofetil
Administration of omeprazole 20 mg twice daily for 4 days and a single 1,000 mg dose of MMF approximately one hour after the last dose of omeprazole to 12 healthy subjects in a cross-over study resulted in a 52% reduction in the C and 23% reduction in the AUC of MPA.
max
Special Populations
Geriatric Population
The elimination rate of omeprazole was somewhat decreased in the elderly, and bioavailability was increased. Omeprazole was 76% bioavailable when a single 40 mg oral dose of omeprazole (buffered solution) was administered to healthy elderly volunteers, versus 58% in young volunteers given the same dose. Nearly 70% of the dose was recovered in urine as metabolites of omeprazole and no unchanged drug was detected. The plasma clearance of omeprazole was 250 mL/min (about half that of young volunteers) and its plasma half-life averaged one hour, about twice that of young healthy volunteers.
Pediatric Use
The pharmacokinetics of omeprazole have been investigated in pediatric patients 2 to 16 years of age:
Table 3 Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Omeprazole Following Single and Repeated Oral Administration in Pediatric Populations Compared with Adults| Single or Repeated Oral Dosing/ Parameter | Children ≤20 kg 2 to 5 years 10 mg
†
| Children > 20 kg 6 to 16 years 20 mg
†
| Adults (mean 76 kg) 23 to 29 years (n = 12)
‡
|
|---|
Single Dosing |
C (ng/mL)
max*
| 288 (n = 10)
| 495 (n = 49)
| 668 |
AUC* (ng h/mL)
| 511 (n = 7)
| 1140 (n = 32)
| 1220 |
Repeated Dosing |
C * (ng/mL)
max
| 539 (n = 4)
| 851 (n = 32)
| 1458 |
AUC* (ng h/mL)
| 1179 (n = 2)
| 2276 (n = 23)
| 3352 |
Note: * = plasma concentration adjusted to an oral dose of 1 mg/kg.
Data from single and repeated dose studies
†
Data from a single and repeated dose study
‡
Doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg omeprazole as enteric-coated granules
Following comparable mg/kg doses of omeprazole, younger children (2 to 5 years of age) have lower AUCs than children 6 to 16 years of age or adults; AUCs of the latter two groups did not differ
[see ].
Dosage and Administration (2)
Hepatic Impairment
In patients with chronic hepatic disease, the bioavailability increased to approximately 100% compared with an I.V. dose, reflecting decreased first-pass effect, and the plasma half-life of the drug increased to nearly 3 hours compared with the half-life in normals of 0.5 to 1 hour. Plasma clearance averaged 70 mL/min, compared with a value of 500 to 600 mL/min in normal subjects. Dose reduction, particularly where maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis is indicated, for the hepatically impaired should be considered.
Renal Impairment
In patients with chronic renal impairment, whose creatinine clearance ranged between 10 and 62 mL/min/1.73 m , the disposition of omeprazole was very similar to that in healthy volunteers, although there was a slight increase in bioavailability. Because urinary excretion is a primary route of excretion of omeprazole metabolites, their elimination slowed in proportion to the decreased creatinine clearance. No dose reduction is necessary in patients with renal impairment.
2
Asian Population
In pharmacokinetic studies of single 20 mg omeprazole doses, an increase in AUC of approximately four-fold was noted in Asian subjects compared with Caucasians. Dose reduction, particularly where maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis is indicated, for Asian subjects should be considered.