PHARMACODYNAMIC STUDIES ON DRUG-DRUG INTERACTION BETWEEN VALSARTAN AND METFORMIN

A drug interaction can be defined as the modification of the effects of one drug by the prior and concomitant administration of other drug. Polypharmacy and multiple drug therapy assume importance in present day clinical practice, since newer molecules are invented everyday and newer challenges face clinicians in managing either a single disease or simultaneously occurring different diseases. The present study was under taken to verify the possible drug-drug interaction if any between valsartan on hypoglycemic activity of metformin in normal and diabetic rats. The whole study is divided into four phases, clearly explained in following study. From the results obtained and concluded that Valsartan has shown hypoglycemia when administered alone in both normal and diabetic rats. Valsartan (5mg/kg) has altered peak hypoglycemia but not significantly alter onset and the duration of hypoglycemia induced by metformin in both healthy and diabetic albino rats but valsartan (10 mg/kg, 20mg/kg, 40 mg/kg) has no significant alteration in onset and the duration of hypoglycemia but altered the peak plasma levels in dose dependent manner with maximum decrease of 60% with higher dose. The maximum percentage decrease in peak plasma levels of metformin was 50%.

Key words: polypharmacy, valsartan, metformin, hypoglycemic activity.