[Slow elimination of a prazosin metabolite compared to prazosin kinetics after its intravenous administration to rabbits].

Serum concentration profiles of prazosin and its metabolite 2-(1-piperazinyl)-4-amine-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline after intravenous bolus administration to rabbits (0.5 mg/kg) were shown to be biphasic. Rapid decline related to distribution was followed by a terminal slope lasting for up to 24 hours. Prazosin level in this phase decreased, its elimination half-life being about 9 hours, while the metabolite serum level was almost constant between 4 and 24 hours and averaged 0.9 mumol/l. This is in keeping with the earlier suggested extremely low elimination rate of this metabolite. Enterohepatic recirculation may account for this phenomenon, as well as a significant rise in the metabolite serum concentration I hour after the injection.