Liquid chromatographic assay and disposition of carvedilol in healthy volunteers.

Quantitative determination of serum concentrations of carvedilol [(+/-)-1-(carbazol-4-yloxy)-3-[[2-(o-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl) amino]-2-propanol], a combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, was obtained using HPLC with spectrofluorometric detection. Carvedilol was extracted from alkalinized serum with ether and was subsequently back extracted with diluted phosphoric acid. This method proved to be sensitive and reproducible (mean coefficient of variation of 6.1% for 0.25 to 150 nanograms per milliliter of serum). A single dose of carvedilol (5, 10, or 15 mg) was given as an intravenous infusion to three healthy volunteers. Carvedilol serum concentration-time profiles were fitted best to a three-compartment model and the pharmacokinetic data revealed the following mean values: Vdss of 1.97 L/kg, mean residence time (MRT) of 4.66 h, and CL of 0.437 L X h-1 X kg-1.