SUMMARYAim: To assess the pharmacokinetics of alosetron, its effect on in vivo enzyme activities, and influence of demographic factors during repeated dosing. Methods: Thirty healthy men and women received 1 mg oral alosetron twice-daily for 29.5 days and a single oral dose of a metabolic probe cocktail before and on the last day of alosetron dosing. Serum alosetron concentrations were measured on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. Probe-substrate and metabolite concentrations were measured after each cocktail dose. Results: Alosetron accumulation in serum was negligible. Exposure to alosetron did not alter probemetabolite/substrate ratios associated with CYP2C19, 2E1, 2C9, or 3A4 activity, but modestly decreased those associated with CYP1A2 and N-acetyltransferase activity. Systemic exposure to alosetron was higher in women, positively correlated with age and body mass index, and negatively correlated with CYP1A2 activity. Incidence of constipation was higher in women, but not associated with alosetron concentration. Conclusions: Single dose data can reliably predict the pharmacokinetics of alosetron after repeated doses. Alosetron exhibits limited potential for inhibition of cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism. Interindividual differences in alosetron pharmacokinetics associated with demographic factors may be related to strong dependence on metabolism by CYP1A2.

The 5-HT3 receptor antagonist alosetron (Lotronex) is indicated for use in women with severe, chronic, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who have failed conventional therapy. Oral contraceptives (OCs) and alosetron are potential co-medications in women of childbearing age. This study assessed the effect of alosetron co-administration on pharmacodynamic markers of contraceptive efficacy, on the pharmacokinetics of estrogen and progesterone OC components, and on the activity of biochemical markers for the risk of thrombosis. This was an open label, nonrandomized two-way crossover study in 18 healthy women stabilized for 3 months on a low-dose OC containing ethinyl estradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LN). Alosetron had no effect on serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) or follicle-stimulating hormone. Ovarian activity grades (assessing follicle size, progesterone, and 17beta-estradiol concentrations) were similar during OC use with and without alosetron. Steady-state (Day 21) AUC24, Cmax, and tmax of both LN and EE were similar during coadministration of alosetron with an OC. Concentrations and activity of biochemical markers of thrombosis risk were not different in the presence of alosetron. These results indicate that alosetron does not alter the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamic markers of efficacy for a low-dose combination OC. The results also suggest that thromboembolic risk is not increased when alosetron is co-administered with an OC.