Influence of electric foot shock on pharmacokinetics of isosorbide dinitrate orally administered to rats.

The influence of emotional stress on the pharmacokinetics of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) was studied in rats. Plasma levels of orally administered ISDN and metabolites (5-isosorbide mononitrate and 2-isosorbide mononitrate) were lower in rats emotionally stressed by foot shock than in non-stressed control rats. The decrease in the ISDN levels may be mainly due to the delay of drug absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.