Comparison of Duloxetine, Escitalopram, and Sertraline Effects on Cytochrome P450 2D6 Function in Healthy Volunteers

Abstract

This study is the first to directly compare the relative effects of duloxetine, escitalopram, and sertraline on the functional activity of the drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme as assessed by changes in the pharmacokinetics of the cytochrome P450 2D6 model substrate drug, metoprolol. Single-dose pharmacokinetics of metoprolol were measured before and after 17 days of treatment with escitalopram 20 mg/d, duloxetine 60 mg/d, or sertraline 100 mg/d in young healthy male and female participants. The outcome measures were changes in metoprolol peak plasma levels, area under the plasma concentration-time curve, and clearance. The results were tested using paired t tests and independent t tests. The addition of each drug produced statistically significant changes in metoprolol pharmacokinetics. The rank order for the change in metoprolol area under the plasma concentration-time curve was duloxetine (180%) > escitalopram (89%) > sertraline (48% and 67%). Compared with sertraline, duloxetine produced statistically significantly larger changes in metoprolol pharmacokinetic parameters. The changes produced by escitalopram and sertraline were not statistically different.