Abstract
Aim: To investigate the population pharmacokinetics (PK) model of lithium carbonate in
young male healthy Chinese subjects.
Methods: This study was conducted using a 2-period crossover design. 20 healthy male subjects
received lithium carbonate tablets from 2 different Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Plasma samples were obtained by blood sampling over 72 h in each period. Population
PK analysis was performed using nonlinear mixed-effects model (NONMEM) software. The
final models were validated using bootstrap and visual predictive check (VPC) approaches.
Results: The final PK model was a two-compartment model. The population PK parameters, clearance
(CL/F), apparent distribution volume of the central compartment (V2/F), inter-compartmental
clearance (Q/F) and apparent distribution volume of the peripheral compartment (V3/F),
were 9.39 L/h, 10.4 L, 22.1 L/h, and 216 L, respectively.
Conclusion: Population PK models for lithium carbonate have been developed and considerable
inter-subject variability was found in healthy young male Chinese subjects. It takes
a long time to achieve the steady state in conventional therapy. This may provide
guidelines for future use of lithium carbonate in China.
Key words
lithium - healthy young male chinese subjects - population pharmacokinetics