Effect of pirenzepine on the N-demethylation of D(-)ephedrine and ethylmorphine by rabbit liver microsomes.

The possible interaction of pirenzepine with the mixed-function oxidases obtained from phenobarbital-pretreated rabbit microsomes was examined in vitro. Under experimental conditions that did not lead to its own N-demethylation, the drug inhibited the microsomal oxidase systems responsible for the N-demethylation of D(-)ephedrine and ethylmorphine. Kinetic studies showed that pirenzepine inhibited the metabolism of both drugs in a competitive manner. The results indicated that the observed pirenzepine stability to the hepatic N-demethylating system is not a result of low affinity of the drug to the system.