Changes in the pharmacokinetics and electrocardiographic pharmacodynamics of terfenadine with concomitant administration of erythromycin

TLDR

Terfenadine, a nonsedating H1‑antagonist, can accumulate and prolong the QT interval, causing torsades de pointes when overdosed, in hepatic compromise, or with ketoconazole. Nine subjects received 60 mg terfenadine twice daily for seven days before starting 500 mg erythromycin every eight hours. Adding erythromycin doubled metabolite exposure (Cmax +107 %, AUC +170 %) and caused unmetabolized terfenadine accumulation in three subjects, leading to QT and ST‑U changes in a subset. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 1992; 52:231–238.

Abstract

Terfenadine is a nonsedating H1-antagonist that when overdosed, used with hepatic compromise, or when given with ketoconazole results in accumulation of parent terfenadine, prolongation of the QT interval, and torsades de pointes in susceptible patients. Nine subjects were given the recommended dose of terfenadine (60 mg every 12 hours) for 7 days before initiation of oral erythromycin (500 mg every 8 hours). All subjects increased metabolite concentrations after the addition of erythromycin for 1 week. The maximum concentration of metabolite increased by a mean of 107% and the mean metabolite area under the concentration-time curve increased by 170%. Three subjects accumulated unmetabolized terfenadine after administration of erythromycin for 1 week. Electrocardiographic data revealed changes in QT intervals and ST-U complexes in a subset of subjects who accumulated terfenadine. We conclude that erythromycin alters the metabolism of terfenadine, leading to accumulation of terfenadine in certain individuals that is associated with altered cardiac repolarization. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1992) 52, 231–238; doi:10.1038/clpt.1992.135