Pharmacokinetics of nitrendipine in patients with renal failure: comparison to normal subjects.

To determine the effect of decreased renal function on the elimination kinetics of the calcium entry blocker nitrendipine and its metabolite, we gave 18 subjects with various levels of renal dysfunction a single 20-mg oral dose of nitrendipine. Plasma nitrendipine and metabolite concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography 15 times over 48 h after the dose. A compartment-independent pharmacokinetic analysis showed no difference in the absorption, elimination, or metabolism of nitrendipine between subjects with normal renal function and those with impaired renal function. We conclude that renal insufficiency does not alter nitrendipine kinetics.