On-chip ion pair-based dispersive liquid-liquid extraction for quantitative determination of histamine H2 receptor antagonist drugs in human urine.

In the present work, an ion-pair based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was performed on a centrifugal chip for the first time. The entire DLLME procedure, including flow direction, desperation, and sedimentation of the extracting phase, can be fulfilled automatically on a solitary chip. The chip was made of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and was of two units for two parallel extractions, each consisting of three chambers (for the sample solution, extracting solvents, and sedimentation). As the chip rotated, fluids flowed within the chip, and the dispersion, mixing, extraction, and sedimentation of the final phase were performed on the chip by simply adjusting the spin speed. Determination of two histamine H2 receptor antagonist drugs, cimetidine and ranitidine, as the model analytes from the urine samples was done using the developed on-chip ion-pair based DLLME method followed by an HPLC-UV. The effective parameters on the extraction efficiency of the model analytes were investigated and optimized using the one variable at a time method. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 15-2000 µg L-1 with a coefficient of determination (R2) more than 0.9987. The relative standard deviations (RSD %) for extraction and determination of the analytes were less than 3.7% based on five replicated measurements. LODs less than 10.0 µg L-1 and preconcentration factors higher than 39-fold were obtained for both of the model analytes. The proposed chip enjoys the advantages of both the DLLME method and miniaturization on a centrifugal chip.

Ranitidine interference with standard amphetamine immunoassay.

BACKGROUND: We recently encountered several cases of possible false positive results of amphetamine on the Beckman Coulter AMPH assay, but not on the Siemens EMIT II Plus assay. Our clinical chart review suggested that ranitidine interference may be responsible for the false positive results of the AMPH assays. METHODS: Blank urine specimens spiked with ranitidine concentrations ranging from 5µg/ml to 5mg/ml were analyzed on both the AMPH and EMIT II Plus assays. To examine if the false positive results were due to assay specific reagent/sample ratios, we prepared 3 different sample to reagent ratios and analyzed them for amphetamine reaction rates on both assays. RESULTS: Ranitidine at 160µg/ml caused a positive interference on the AMPH assay. No interference was observed by ranitidine on the EMIT II Plus assay. Specifically, the sample to reagent ratios tested neither eliminated the positive inference on the AMP assay nor introduced an interference on the EMIT II Plus assay. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike the EMIT II Plus assay, the AMPH assay has cross-activity with ranitidine, which is independent of sample to reagent ratio.

Modified Au nanoparticles-imprinted sol-gel, multiwall carbon nanotubes pencil graphite electrode used as a sensor for ranitidine determination.

A new, simple, and disposable molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for the determination of ranitidine was developed on pencil graphite electrode (PGE) via cyclic voltammetry (CV). The PGEs were coated with MWCNTs containing the carboxylic functional group (f-MWCNTs), imprinted with sol-gel and Au nanoparticle (AuNPs) layers (AuNP/MIP-sol-gel/f-MWCNT/PGE), respectively, to enhance the electrode's electrical transmission and sensitivity. The thin film of molecularly imprinted sol-gel polymers with specific binding sites for ranitidine was cast on modified PGE by electrochemical deposition. The AuNP/MIP-sol-gel/f-MWCNT/PGE thus developed was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and CV. The interaction between the imprinted sensor and the target molecule was also observed on the electrode by measuring the current response of 5.0mMK3[Fe(CN)6] solution as an electrochemical probe. The pick currents of ranitidine increased linearly with concentration in the ranges of 0.05 to 2.0µM, with a detection limit of (S/N=3) 0.02µM. Finally, the modified electrode was successfully employed to determine ranitidine in human urine samples.

Determination of ranitidine, nizatidine, and cimetidine by a sensitive fluorescent probe.

A validated, simple, and sensitive fluorescence quenching method for the determination of ranitidine, nizatidine, and cimetidine in tablets and biological fluids is presented. This is the first single fluorescence method reported for the analysis of all three H(2) antagonists. The competitive reaction between the investigated drug and the palmatine probe for the occupancy of the cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) cavity was studied using spectrofluorometry. CB[7] was found to react with the probe to form a stable complex. The fluorescence intensity of the complex was also enhanced greatly. However, the addition of the drug dramatically quenched the fluorescence intensity of the complex. Accordingly, a new fluorescence quenching method for the determination of the studied drugs was established. The different experimental parameters affecting the fluorescence quenching intensity were studied carefully. At optimum reaction conditions, the rectilinear calibration graphs between the fluorescence quenching values (ΔF) and the medicament concentration were obtained in the concentration range of 0.04-1.9 µg mL(-1) for the investigated drugs. The limits of detection ranged from 0.013 to 0.030 µg mL(-1) at 495 nm using an excitation wavelength of 343 nm. The proposed method can be used for the determination of the three H(2) antagonists in raw materials, dosage forms and biological fluids.

Polyethylene glycol 400 enhances the bioavailability of a BCS class III drug (ranitidine) in male subjects but not females.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) on the bioavailability of ranitidine in male and female subjects. METHOD: Ranitidine (150 mg) was dissolved in 150 ml water with 0 (control), 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25 or 1.5 g PEG 400 and administered to 12 healthy human volunteers (six males and six females) in a randomized order. The cumulative amount of ranitidine and its metabolites excreted in urine over 24 h was determined for each treatment using a validated HPLC method. RESULTS: In the male volunteers, the mean cumulative amount of ranitidine excreted in the presence of 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 g PEG 400 were 35, 47, 57, 52, 50 and 37 mg respectively. These correspond to increases in bioavailability of 34%, 63%, 49%, 43% and 6% over the control treatment. In the female subjects, the mean cumulative quantity of ranitidine excretion in the absence and presence of increasing amounts of PEG 400 were 38, 29, 35, 33, 33 and 33 mg, corresponding to decreases in bioavailability of 24%, 8%, 13%, 13% and 13% compared to the control. The metabolite excretion profiles followed a similar trend to the parent drug at all concentrations of PEG 400. CONCLUSIONS: All doses of PEG 400 enhanced the bioavailability of ranitidine in male subjects but not females, with the most pronounced effect in males noted with the 0.75 g dose of PEG 400 (63% increase in bioavailability compared to control, p < 0.05). These findings have significant implications for the use of PEG 400 in drug development and also highlight the importance of gender studies in pharmacokinetics.

Simple and universal HPLC-UV method to determine cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine and nizatidine in urine: application to the analysis of ranitidine and its metabolites in human volunteers.

A validated, simple and universal HPLC-UV method for the determination of cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine and ranitidine in human urine is presented. This is the first single HPLC method reported for the analysis of all four H(2) antagonists in human biological samples. This method was also utilized for the analysis of ranitidine and its metabolites in human urine. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r(2)>0.9960) within test ranges. The method showed good precision and accuracy with overall intra- and inter-day variations of 0.2-13.6% and 0.2-12.1%, respectively. Separation of ranitidine and its metabolites using this assay provided significantly improved resolution, precision and accuracy compared to previously reported methods. The assay was successfully applied to a human volunteer study using ranitidine as the model compound.

Determination of ranitidine in urine by capillary electrophoresis-electrochemiluminescent detection.

The fast analysis of ranitidine is of clinical importance in understanding its efficiency and a patient's treatment history. In this paper, a novel determination method for ranitidine based on capillary electrophoresis-electrochemiluminescence detection is described. The conditions affecting separation and detection were investigated in detail. End-column detection of ranitidine in 5 mM Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) solution at applied voltage of 1.20 V was performed. Favorable ECL intensity with higher column efficiency was achieved by electrokinetic injection for 10s at 10 kV. The R.S.D. values of ECL intensity and migration time were 6.38 and 1.84% for 10(-4) M and 6.01 and 0.60% for 10(-5) M, respectively. A detection limit of 7 x 10(-8) M (S/N=3) was achieved. The proposed method was applied satisfactorily to the determination of ranitidine in urine in 6 min.

Direct determination of ranitidine and famotidine by CE in serum, urine and pharmaceutical formulations.

A simple and sensitive capillary electrophoresis method using UV detection has been developed for the direct determination of ranitidine (RANT) and famotidine (FAMT) in serum, urine and pharmaceutical formulations. A buffer consisting of 60 mM phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 6.5 was found to provide a very efficient and stable electrophoretic system for the analysis of both drugs. The detection limits obtained were 0.088 microgram ml(-1) for RANT and 0.16 microgram ml(-1) for FAMT.

Development of a sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for estimation of ranitidine in urine and its application for bioequivalence decision for ranitidine tablet formulations.

A sensitive and simple HPTLC method was developed for estimation of ranitidine in human urine. The drug was extracted from urine after basification using dichloromethane. Dichloromethane extract was spotted on silica gel 60 F254 TLC plate and was developed in a mixture of ethyl acetate-methanol-ammonia (35:10:5 v/v) as the mobile phase and scanned at 320 nm. The RF value obtained for the drug was 0.67 +/- 0.03. The method was validated in terms of linearity (50-400 ng/spot), precision and accuracy. The average recovery of ranitidine from urine was 89.35%. The proposed method was applied to evaluate bioequivalence of two marketed ranitidine tablet formulations (150 mg, Formulation I and Formulation 2) using a crossover design by comparing urinary excretion data for unchanged ranitidine in six healthy volunteers. Various pharmacokinetic parameters like peak excretion rate [(dAU/dt)max], time for peak excretion rate (tmax), AUC0-24, AUC0-infinity, cumulative amount excreted were calculated for both formulations and subjected to statistical analysis. The relative bioavailability of Formulation 2 with respect to Formulation 1 was 93.76 and 95.31% on the basis of AUC0-24 and cumulative amount excreted, respectively. Statistical comparison of various pharmacokinetic parameters indicated that the two ranitidine tablet formulations are bioequivalent.

Positive predictive values of abused drug immunoassays on the Beckman Synchron in a veteran population.

The pressure to reduce the cost of analytic testing makes it tempting to discontinue routine confirmation of urine specimens positive for drugs of abuse by immunoassay. Beyond the economic motivation, the requirement for confirmation should be driven by the positive predictive value of the screening tests. We have quantitated positive predictive values of our screening immunoassays in a large metropolitan Veterans Affairs Medical Center. We reviewed the confirmatory rate of urine specimens positive for drugs of abuse with Beckman Synchron reagents from June 1998 to June 1999 and tabulated the false-positive screening rate. There were 175 instances of false-positive screens during the 13 months we analyzed. Positive predictive values ranged from 0% (amphetamine) to 100% (THC). We determined that the low positive predictive value of the amphetamine assay in our laboratory was primarily due to the use of ranitidine (Zantac). Urine specimens containing greater than 43 microg/mL ranitidine were positive in our amphetamine assay. This concentration is routinely exceeded in our patients taking ranitidine. In our clinical and analytic setting, the Beckman THC assay did not require confirmation. The positive predictive values of the Beckman opiate, cocaine, barbiturate, propoxyphene, and methadone immunoassays dictate routine confirmatory testing in specimens that screen positive for these substances. Finally, because of its extreme sensitivity to ranitidine, the Beckman amphetamine assay has little utility in our laboratory setting.

Phenotypes of flavin-containing monooxygenase activity determined by ranitidine N-oxidation are positively correlated with genotypes of linked FM03 gene mutations in a Korean population.

A non-invasive urine analysis method to determine the in-vivo flavin-containing mono-oxygenase (FMO) activity catalysing N-oxidation of ranitidine (RA) was developed and used to phenotype a Korean population. FMO activity was assessed by the molar concentration ratio of RA and RANO in the bulked 8 h urine. This method was used to determine the FMO phenotypes of 210 Korean volunteers (173 men and 37 women, 110 nonsmokers and 100 smokers). Urinary RA/RANO ratio, representing the metabolic ratio and the reciprocal index of FMO activity, ranged from 5.67-27.20 (4.8-fold difference) and was not different between men and women (P = 0.76) or between smokers and nonsmokers (P = 0.50). The frequencies of RA/RANO ratios were distributed in a trimodal fashion. Among the 210 Korean subjects, 93 (44.3%) were fast metabolizers, 104 (49.5%) were intermediate metabolizers and 13 (6.2%) were slow metabolizers. Subsequently, the relationship between the ranitidine N-oxidation phenotypes and FMO3 genotypes, determined by the presence of two previously identified mutant alleles (Glu158Lys: FMO3/Lys158 and Glu308Gly: FMO3/Gly308 alleles) commonly found in our Korean population was examined. The results showed that subjects who were homozygous and heterozygous for either one or both of the FMO3/Lys158 and FMO3/Gly308 mutant alleles had significantly lower in-vivo FMO activities than those with homozygous wild-type alleles (FMO3/Glu158 and FMO3/Glu308) (P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U-test). Furthermore, the FMO activities of subjects with either FMO3/Lys158 or FMO3/Gly308 mutant alleles were almost identical to those having both FMO3 mutant alleles (FMO3/Lys158 and FMO3/Gly308). These two mutant alleles located, respectively, at exons 4 and 7 in the FMO3 gene appeared to be strongly linked by cis-configuration in Koreans. Therefore, we concluded that presence of FMO3/Lys158 and FMO3/Gly308 mutant alleles in FMO3 gene is responsible for the low ranitidine N-oxidation (FMO3 activity) in our Korean population.

Automated in-tube solid-phase microextraction-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the determination of ranitidine.

The technique of automated in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) was evaluated for the determination of ranitidine. In-tube SPME is an extraction technique for organic compounds in aqueous samples, in which analytes are extracted from the sample directly into an open tubular capillary column by repeated aspirate/dispense steps. In order to optimize the extraction of ranitidine, several in-tube SPME parameters such as capillary column stationary phase, extraction pH and number and volume of aspirate/dispense steps were investigated. The optimum extraction conditions for ranitidine from aqueous samples were 10 aspirate/dispense steps of 30 microliters of sample in 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.5) with an Omegawax 250 capillary column (60 cm x 0.25 mm I.D., 0.25 micron film thickness). The ranitidine extracted on the capillary column was easily desorbed with methanol, and then transported to the Supelcosil LC-CN column with the mobile phase methanol-2-propanol-5 M ammonium acetate (50:50:1). The ranitidine eluted from the column was determined by ESI-MS in selected ion monitoring mode. In-tube SPME followed by LC-ESI-MS was performed automatically using the HP 1100 autosampler. Each analysis required 16 min, and carryover of ranitidine in this system was below 1%. The calibration curve of ranitidine in the range of 5-1000 ng/ml was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997 (n = 24), and a detection limit at a signal-to-noise ratio of three was ca. 1.4 ng/ml. The within-day and between-day variations in ranitidine analysis were 2.5 and 6.2% (n = 5), respectively. This method was also applied for the analyses of tablet and urine samples.

A physiologically based kidney model for the renal clearance of ranitidine and the interaction with cimetidine and probenecid in the dog.

Ranitidine renal clearance was investigated in the beagle dog with or without concomitant infusion of cimetidine or probenecid. Ranitidine was excreted mainly by renal tubular secretion. Plasma clearance was reduced by probenecid from 198 +/- 47 to 119 +/- 41 mL min-1 (mean +/- SD.); renal clearance was reduced from 104 +/- 33 to 54 +/- 24 mL min-1 (p < 0.02) by probenecid and to 89 +/- 37 mL min-1 (NS) by cimetidine. Plasma and urine data were analysed simultaneously with a physiologically based kidney model and were both described adequately by the model, although tubular secretion could not be fully characterized as no saturation was achieved despite high dosages. Tubular secretion of ranitidine was simplified to first-order brush-border and basolateral transport across the proximal tubular cell. Basolateral transport was reduced (from 18.4 +/- 7.8 to 13.6 +/- 10.3 min-1 by cimetidine and 3.9 +/- 3.1 min-1 by probenecid), whereas no effect on brush-border exit was found. Estimated inhibition constants of cimetidine and probenecid were 62 and 4 micrograms mL-1, respectively. Summarizing, ranitidine renal pharmacokinetics were accurately described by the physiologically based kidney model presented in this paper. Model calculations suggest that interaction with cimetidine and probenecid results from competition for basolateral ranitidine uptake into tubular cells.

Use of post-column fluorescence derivatization to develop a liquid chromatographic assay for ranitidine and its metabolites in biological fluids.

Ranitidine and its main metabolites, ranitidine N-oxide and ranitidine S-oxide, were determined in plasma and urine after separation using reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The mobile phase consisted of an initial isocratic step with 7:93 (v/v) acetonitrile-7.5 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6) for 8 min, followed by a linear gradient up to a 25:75 (v/v) mixture over 1 min. Detection was carried out by a post-column fluorimetric derivatization based on the reaction of the drugs with sodium hypochlorite, giving rise to primary amines that reacted with o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol to form highly fluorescent products. The calibration graphs, based on peak area, were linear in the range 0.1-4 microg/ml for all drugs. The detection limits were 30, 41 and 32 ng/ml (8.6, 12.5 and 9.1 pmol) for ranitidine S-oxide, ranitidine N-oxide and ranitidine, respectively. Chromatographic profiles obtained for plasma and urine samples showed no interference from endogenous compounds.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ranitidine in renal impairment.

OBJECTIVE: The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of ranitidine were examined in subjects with varying degrees of renal function to determine the effect of this condition on acid-antisecretory activity. METHODS: Subjects with creatinine clearances (Ccr) ranging from 0 to 213 m1.min-1 received single 50-mg and 25-mg i.v. doses of ranitidine. This was followed by determination of serum and urine ranitidine concentrations, and continuous gastric pH monitoring for 24 h. RESULTS: Serum ranitidine concentrations were described by a two-compartment model linked to a sigmoidal Emax model describing gastric pH. Ranitidine renal clearance, ranging from 0 to 1003 m1.min-1, correlated with CPAH (r2 = 0.707), while non-renal clearance was unaltered. Steady-state volume of distribution decreased by half in severe renal impairment. No changes in the effective concentration at half-maximal response (EC50), maximal response (Emax), or basal response (E0) were observed. Thus, renal elimination of ranitidine declined in parallel with renal function, while sensitivity to the pharmacologic effect (gastric pH elevation) was unaltered. Ranitidine was cell tolerated in these renally impaired subjects. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the current recommendation for renal impairment dose reduction (by two-thirds when Ccr < 50 m1-min-1) might result in under-treating moderately impaired patients, and suggests a less conservative dose reduction (by half when Ccr < 10 m1.min-1) to avoid therapeutic failure while remaining within the wide margin of safety for this drug.

Polarographic behaviour and determination of ranitidine in pharmaceutical formulations and urine.

A polarographic method for the determination of ranitidine is described, based on the reduction of the nitro group at a dropping-mercury electrode. The proposed method permits the drug to be determined, without any prior separation or extraction, in pharmaceutical formulations and urine at levels at which the unchanged drug is excreted. The current is diffusion controlled and proportional to concentration from 3.58 x 10(-3) to 1.50 mmol l-1. The detection limit is 1.07 x 10(-3) mmol l-1. The reduction process was studied at different pH values and a reduction mechanism is proposed in which the importance of the homogeneous chemical reactions associated with the electron-transfer steps are indicated.

Pharmacokinetic-interaction study of didanosine and ranitidine in patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus.

The potential pharmacokinetic interactions between didanosine, an acid-labile antiretroviral agent, and ranitidine, an H2-receptor antagonist, were evaluated by a crossover study of 12 male patients seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus. Single oral doses of 375 mg of didanosine, formulated as a citrate-phosphate-buffered sachet, or of 150 mg of ranitidine were administered alone or in combination (ranitidine was given 2 h prior to didanosine). Serial blood samples and total urinary output were collected after each treatment and analyzed for didanosine and/or ranitidine by validated high-performance liquid chromatography-UV assay methods. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental methods. There were significant increases in mean area under the curve from time zero to infinity and mean urinary recovery for didanosine given in combination with ranitidine compared with those for didanosine alone. There were no significant differences between didanosine coadministered with ranitidine and didanosine alone in the respective mean peak concentrations in plasma, times to peak, elimination half-lives, or renal clearances. The mean area under the curve for ranitidine given with didanosine was significantly less than that for ranitidine given alone. There were no significant differences between the mean peak concentrations in plasma, times to peak, elimination half-lives, renal clearances, or urinary recovery values for ranitidine coadministered with didanosine and values for ranitidine given alone. These data demonstrate that administration of didanosine 2 h after ranitidine will result in a minor increase in the bioavailability of didanosine. A modification in the dose of didanosine or ranitidine is not necessary if the dose of ranitidine precedes that of didanosine by 2 h.

Pharmacokinetics of ranitidine after partial gastrectomy in dogs.

The effect of gastric surgery on the pharmacokinetics of ranitidine was studied in six dogs, all serving as their own controls. Prior to and after surgery, each dog received a single oral dose (5 mg/kg of body weight) of a ranitidine solution. The surgery consisted of partial gastrectomy (antrectomy) and truncal vagotomy. Ranitidine plasma and urine concentrations were measured by reversed-phase ion-pair liquid chromatography with UV detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by noncompartmental data analysis techniques. Gastric surgery tended to slow the absorption of ranitidine as reflected by a slight increase of the time necessary to reach the peak plasma concentration. The maximum observed plasma concentration was slightly lowered. The amount of drug absorbed remained unchanged as reflected by no change in the AUCs. Other parameters such as mean residence time, elimination half-life, apparent oral clearance, and fraction excreted unchanged in the urine remained unchanged. However, due to the small number of animals and the considerable intersubject variability, none of these trends reached statistical significance.

Ranitidine interference with the monoclonal EMIT d.a.u. amphetamine/methamphetamine immunoassay.

The interference of ranitidine with the monoclonal EMIT d.a.u. amphetamine/methamphetamine immunoassay (ME) was investigated. Urine specimens collected from 23 patients receiving 150-300 mg of ranitidine daily were found to contain 7-271 mg/L of the drug when analyzed by Remedi automated high pressure liquid chromatography. Only patient specimens and urine samples with ranitidine added at concentrations greater than 91 mg/L gave false positive ME results. Of the 63 patient urine samples analyzed by ME, 12 gave false positive results. All false positive results occurred in the first or second void after ingestion. No false positive results occurred with the polyclonal EMIT d.a.u. amphetamine or TDx amphetamine/methamphetamine II assays.