Comparison of alprazolam plasma levels in normal Asian and Caucasian male volunteers

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Abstract
Single-dose pharmacokinetics of alprazolam was studied in 42 normal male volunteers (14 Caucasians, 14 American-born Asians, and 14 foreign-born Asians), after both oral and parenteral (IV) administration of a small dose (0.5 mg) of the test drug. Asians manifested significantly higher C max, larger AUC, slower CL and longer t 1/2 under both testing situations. When body surface area was used as a covariate, these cross-ethnic differences remained statistically significant (except C max) after oral but not IV drug administration. There were no differences between the two Asian groups in any of these parameters examined in this study. These results confirmed previous observations of ethnic differences in the pharmacokinetic response between Asians and Caucasians and suggested that smaller doses of alprazolam may be required for Asians for similar clinical effects as compared to their Caucasian counterparts.