Tolbutamide kinetics in cigarette smokers in the Indian population.

A single oral dose of 500 mg tolbutamide was administered to 9 chronic cigarette smokers and 8 healthy matched control volunteers. Plasma tolbutamide half-life (t1/2 B) was shortened in cigarette smokers as compared to the nonsmokers, but the difference was not statistically significant (p greater than 0.05). However, the area under the plasma concentration (AUC O----x) and peak concentration (Cmax) were reduced significantly in smokers. Concern over enhanced metabolism of several drugs is probably warranted in cigarette smokers.