39–41 Voriconazole is neither a substrate nor an inhibitor www.selleckchem.com/products/ABT-263.html of P-gp, nor does it inhibit BCRP.31,42 Posaconazole.  Posaconazole is available as oral suspension and exhibits linear pharmacokinetics with dosages between 50 and 800 mg day−1. However, saturation of absorption occurs at doses exceeding 800 mg day−1.43 Posaconazole absorption and exposure are maximised by dividing the total daily dose into four times daily rather than administering it as a single

dose.44,45 Gastric pH influences absorption, which is optimal under acidic conditions.45 In addition to dividing the dose, the administration of posaconazole oral suspension with or shortly after a meal, or with a liquid nutritional supplement increases the mean plasma exposure up to fourfold

compared with administration in the fasted state.45–47 The effect of food on posaconazole absorption appears to be a result of increased solubilisation of the drug rather than a decrease in gastric emptying.45 Although posaconazole binds extensively (>95%) to plasma proteins, its large estimated volume of distribution suggests that it distributes widely throughout the body.48 Posaconazole CSF concentrations have been reported in a small series of patients (n = 3). Because of the uncontrolled nature of sampling and dosing in these reported cases, no fixed plasma/CNS drug concentration Cilomilast ratio could be deterimed.49 Although posaconazole is a Buspirone HCl lipophilic compound, it is primarily eliminated in the faeces and urine as unchanged drug.50 Approximately 17% of a dose undergoes biotransformation.50 Unlike itraconazole and voriconazole, posaconazole is only minimally (2%) metabolised by CYP.50,51 The majority of posaconazole metabolites are glucuronide conjugates formed via uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) pathways.51 The primary metabolite is formed by UGT1A4.51 Although very little posaconazole is metabolised

by CYP, like all azoles, it inhibits hepatic CYP3A4.52 However, in humans, posaconazole has no effect on the activity of other CYP enzymes including CYP2C8/9, CYP1A2, CYP2D6 or CYP2E1.52 Unpublished data regarding the interaction between posaconazole and P-gp demonstrate that it is a P-gp substrate and inhibitor.50,53 Antifungal agents can produce additive toxicities, reduce renal elimination, inhibit biotransformation and interfere with active transport of a variety of other medicines. In contrast, there are far fewer medications that can negatively influence the systemic availability and exposure of antifungal agents by altering pH, or inducing their metabolism. Among the classes of antifungal agents, the polyenes (amphotericin B formulations) are most likely to have interactions with other agents that manifest as additive toxicities.