Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose and Multi-Dose of Lovastatin/Niacin ER Tablet in Healthy Volunteers

An extended-release (ER) niacin and lovastatin fixed-dose combination has been developed for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia. The purpose of the present study was to examine the drug interaction between niacin and lovastatin after multi-dose oral administration of lovastatin/niacin ER combination in healthy Chinese volunteers. A single-center, randomized, open-label, 5-period crossover study was conducted in thirty healthy volunteers aged 18 to 45 years with a washout period of 8 days. Subjects were randomized to receive multiple doses of treatment A (1 500 mg niacin ER tablet), B (1 20 mg lovastatin tablet), C (1 20 mg lovastatin and 500 mg niacin-ER tablet), D (2 10 mg lovastatin and 350 mg niacin-ER tablets) or E (2 10 mg lovastatin and 500 mg niacin-ER tablets) in 1 of 5 sequences (ABCDE, BCDEA, CDEAB, DEABC, EABCD) per period. Lovastatin, niacin and its metabolites (nicotinuric acid and nicotinamide) were determined in plasma by LC/MS method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated, and least square mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals for Cmax⁡ and AUC (0–24) were determined for lovastatin/niacin ER versus niacin ER or lovastatin. It revealed that the formulation had no potential drug interaction in healthy Chinese volunteers when the dosage was increased from 500 mg to 1000 mg.