Benzodiazepines metabolic pathways

Figure 9.1. The metabolic pathways for the principal 1,4-benzodiazepines. The major pathway is shown with solid arrows and the minor pathway with broken arrows. Commercially available drugs are underlined.

In a brief review, emphasis has been placed on pharmacokinetic interactions between neuroleptic drugs and benzodiazepines, as much information on their metabolic pathways is emerging (629). Thus, CYP3A4, which plays a dominant role in the metabolism of benzodiazepines, also contributes to the metabolism of clozapine, haloper-idol, and quetiapine, and plasma neuroleptic drug concentrations can rise. 

Table 3 Predominant metabolic pathways for benzodiazepines and related agonists...

Because of the frequency of co-administration of benzodiazepines with neuroleptic drugs, it is important to consider possible adverse effects that can result from such combinations. In a brief review, emphasis has been placed on pharmacokinetic interactions between neuroleptic drugs and benzodiazepines, as much information on their metabolic pathways is emerging (166). Thus, the enzyme CYP3A4, which plays a dominant role in the metabolism of benzodiazepines, also contributes to the metabolism of clozapine, haloperidol, and quetiapine, and neuroleptic drug plasma concentrations can rise. Intramuscular levomepromazine in combination with an intravenous benzodiazepine has been said to increase the risk of airways obstruction, on the basis of five cases of respiratory impairment the doses of levomepromazine were higher in the five cases that had accompanying airways obstruction than in another 95 patients who did not (167). 

Omeprazole, like cimetidine, can impair benzodiazepine metabolism and lead to adverse effects (SEDA-18, 43). Other drugs, including antibiotics (erythromycin, chloramphenicol, isoniazid), antifungal drugs (ketoconazole, itraconazole, and analogues), some SSRIs (fluoxetine, paroxetine), other antidepressants (nefazodone), protease inhibitors (saquinavir), opioids (fentanyl), calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil), and disulfiram also compete for hepatic oxidative pathways that metabolize most benzodiazepines, as well as zolpidem, zopiclone, and buspirone (SEDA-22,39) (SEDA-22,41). 

Zopiclone is a cyclopyrrolone in structure. It has a fairly fast (about 1 hour) onset of action which lasts for 6-8 hours, making it an effective drug both for initial and maintenance insomnia. It may cause fewer problems on withdrawal than benzodiazepines. Its duration of action is prolonged in the elderly and in hepatic insufficiency. About 40% of patients experience a metallic aftertaste. Care should be taken with concomitant medication that affects its metabolic pathway (see Table 19.2a). The dose is 3.75-7.5 mg p.o. 

Cimetidine. Since cimetidine may inhibit certain metabolic pathways, an increased action of concurrently administered drugs that are metabolized via these pathways should be anticipated. For example, cimetidine may inhibit the metabolism of diazepam and certain other benzodiazepines, and the sedative effect of these agents may be enhanced as a result of the interaction. Particular caution is necessary in older patients who may exhibit an increased sensitivity to the depressant... 

Several other genetically determined metabolic pathways affect the rate and degree of metabolism of phenelzine (Nardil) and certain benzodiazepines. Unpredicted medication responses to these agents are potentially linked to altered metabolism. 

Figure 9.2. Metabolic pathways for common anxiolytic benzodiazepines. Capitalized names are marketed drugs. Active metabolite.

Clonazepam (8) is almost completely absorbed after oral dosing (96) with an average max of 2-4 h. As with other 7-nitro benzodiazepines, the major metabolic pathway for clonazepam is reduction of the nitro group, acetylation of the resulting amine, and elimination of the acetamide. Hydroxylation of clonazepam or of 7-amino clonazepam to give the 3-hydroxy derivatives represents minor metabolic pathways. The elimination half-life of clonazepam is 20-30 h (97), and no active metabolites are produced. 

Oxazepam (6) is formed during the metabolism of many other benzodiazepines, but its own metabolic profile is relatively simple. Like lorazepam, the major metabolic pathway is glucuronidation at the 3-hydroxy group followed by urinary excretion. Up to 80% of the dose is recovered from the urine as the glucuronide. The mean half-life of oxazepam is approximately 9 h (98). 

Studies on the pharmacokinetics of flunltrazepam (lb) in man, clonazepam (Ih) in rhesus monkeys, and triazolam (9a) in dogs have appeared. The metabolism of bromazepam (li) in rodents has been studied, and the major metabolic pathway is cleavage of the benzodiazepine ring at the - 2 and bonds with subsequent reduction and hydroxy-... 

Cimetidine inhibits the liver enzymes associated with oxidative metabolism. Hence, the serum levels of most benzodiazepines affected by this metabolic pathway (aiprazoiam, diazepam, cbiordiazepoxide, fiurazepam, nitrazepam, and triazoiam) were found to be increased when cimetidine was co-administered. Benzodiazepines metabolized by glucuronide conjugation (iorazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam) are not affected by cimetidine. Ranitidine probably has no significant interaction with most benzodiazepines. 

Flurazepam is administered orally as the dihydrochloride salt. It is rapidly N-dealkylated to give the 2 -fluoro derivative of N-desmethyIdiazepam, and it subsequently follows the same metabolic pathways as chlordiazepoxide and diazepam (Fig. 22.18). The half-life of flurazepam is fairly long ( 7 hours) consequently, it has the same potential as chlordiazepoxide and diazepam to produce cumulative clinical effects and side effects (e.g., excessive sedation) and residual pharmacological activity, even after discontinuation. Chlorazepate is yet another benzodiazepine that is rapidly metabolized (3-decarboxylation) to N-desmethyIdiazepam and so shares similar clinical and pharmacokinetic properties to chlordiazepoxide and diazepam. 

Disulfiram inhibits the initial metabolism (A-demethylation and oxidation) of both chlordiazepoxide and diazepam by the liver so that an alternative but slower metabolic pathway is used. This results in the accumulation of these benzodiazepines in the body. In contrast, the metabolism (glucuronidation) of oxazepam and lorazepam is minimally affected by disulfiram so that their clearance from the body remains largely unaffected. The possible interaction between disulfiram and temazepam is not understood, as temazepam is also mainly eliminated in the urine as the inactive glucuronide metabolite, and so its metabolism would not be expected to be affected by disulfiram. 

Disulfiram inhibits CYP enzymes 1A2, 2C9, and 3A4 many benzodiazepines are metabolized via these pathways lorazepam, temazepam, and oxazepam are NOT metabolized via the CYP4S0 system and are reasonable alternatives. 

All SSRIs (e.g., Feonard et ah, 1997) and in particular fluoxetine, Fluvosamine and paroxetine are metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the possibility that the therapeutic or toxic effects of other medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme system can be increased. Substantial inhibition of these isoenzymes converts a normal metabolizer into a slow metabolizer with regard to this specific pathway. Inhibition of the hepatic oxidative isoenzymes has been associated with a reduction, to a varying extent, in the clearance of many therapeutic agents, including the TCAs, several neuroleptics, antiarrhythmics, theophy-lene, terfenadine, benzodiazepines, carbamazepine, and warfarin (for a complete list, see Nemeroff et ak, 1996). 

The benzodiazepines are extensively metabolized producing multiple metabolites, many of which share common pathways (Figure 4.4). Metabolic processes include hydroxylation, demeth-ylation, and glucuronidation. 

Antibiotics (erythromycin, chloramphenicol, isoniazid) compete for hepatic oxidative pathways that metabolize most benzodiazepines, as well as zolpidem, zopiclone, and buspirone (SEDA-22, 39) (SEDA-22, 41). 

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