Common multiple interactions of tricyclic antidepressants and orphenadrine with liver microsomal cytochrome P450 enzymes of the rat

1. Interactions of tricylic anti-depressants (TCA) and structurally related drugs with rat microsomal cytochromes P450 were studied including competitive inhibition of enzymatic activities and formation of P450 metabolite complexes. 2. All compounds examined that carry a methylated aminoalkyl sidechain formed metabolite complexes with microsomal P450 of the untreated male rat. The extent of complex formation is only slightly altered by rat pre-treatment with P450 inducers indicating that mainly constitutive P450 enzymes are involved. 3. The kinetics of in vitro complex formation differed for the di- and monomethylamino derivatives of the TCA showing either a sigmoidal or hyperbolic shape respectively. Considerable auto-inhibition of complex formation is observed at concentrations 100 muM only with the dimethyl derivatives. 4. Besides metabolite complex formation, a further effect of the drugs is competitive inhibition of the CYP2B-dependent pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation. The inhibitory potential of the ...