No effect of high-protein food on the stereoselective bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of verapamil.

The effects of high-protein food on the bioavailability of both the racemate and individual enantiomers of verapamil were investigated in 12 healthy volunteers using a randomized crossover design. Food had no effect on any parameter of bioavailability for both the racemate and the individual enantiomers of verapamil except time to maximum concentration (tmax), which was significantly prolonged after food intake. The pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of norverapamil were not significantly changed by food intake. These results suggest that high-protein food does not alter the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of either the racemate or the individual enantiomers of verapamil. Therefore, the clinical efficacy of verapamil is not related to food intake, except for a slight prolongation in the time to onset of the pharmacologic effects. The present data can be applied to the high-protein content meal intake.