Injectable depot contraceptives on d-norgestrel basis. I. Pharmacokinetic studies in dog and baboons.
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A sensitive and reliable radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of norethindrone (NET) in serum has been established employing anti-11 alpha-hydroxynorethindrone 11-hemisuccinyl-bovine serum albumin serum in conjunction with norethindrone-3-(0-carboxymethyl) oximino-[125I]-iodohistamine. Of a number of ring A reduced NET metabolites, only 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-ethinyl-5 beta-estran-3-one (43%) and 17 alpha-ethinyl-5 alpha-estrane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (15.7%) cross-reacted appreciably in this RIA. Ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and mestranol (MEE2) exhibited cross-reactions of only 1.1 and 0.4%, respectively. Serum NET levels were measured in four groups of 3 women, each ingesting either 1 mg NET plus 0.05 mg MEE2 (Norinyl 1 + 50 or Ortho Novum 1/50), 0.5 mg NET plus 0.035 mg EE2 (Brevicon) or only 0.35 mg NET (Micronor) daily for 5 consecutive days. Peak serum NET levels were observed within 1/2 to 4 hours after oral intake and fell precipitously thereafter. After reaching a maximum, serum NET concentrations declined in a manner consistent with at least two disposition phases. The average half-life for the first disposition phase was 2.3, 3.4, 3.9 and 4.4 hours in subjects ingesting Norinyl 1 + 50, Ortho Novum 1/50, Brevicon and Micronor, respectively. Peak and 3-hour post-ingestion serum NET concentrations were dose-related but showed considerable subject-to-subject variations. Following discontinuation of tablet intake, serum NET levels remained detectable (greater than 0.05 ng/ml) for at least 5 days in all 3 women who had taken Ortho Novum 1/50, but in none of the other 9 volunteers. These results suggest that different preparations of identical doses and combinations of oral contraceptive steroids may yield different serum NET profiles. However, due to considerable subject-to-subject variations, larger numbers of subjects are required for a conclusive investigation.
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The mode of action of compressed pellets containing 85 per cent norethindrone (NET) and 15 per cent cholesterol was studied. Four pellets were inserted subcutaneously, in each of five healthy volunteers and left in place for 200--229 days. The NET content of the pellets varied between 23.9 mg and 25.6 mg; and the cholesterol content between 4.2 mg and 4.5 mg. Plasma levels of NET, estradiol and progesterone were determined by radioimmunoassays. Plasma levels of NET varied mostly between 1--2 ng/ml the first month after insertion. After two months plasma levels of NET ranged between 0.5 ng/ml and 1 ng/ml in all volunteers and there was a gradual decrease of the plasma NET levels throughout treatment. Pronounced day-to-day variations in plasma NET levels were recorded. The release rates of NET was calculated to be between 187 micrograms/day and 243 micrograms/day among the five volunteers. Ovulations occurred in four out of five subjects during treatment. This study indicates that the release of gestagen from four NET pellets was only initially high enough to completely inhibit ovulation and that to accomplish full contraceptive efficacy, a higher dose, i.e. more pellets, would have to be inserted.
Some biological and biochemical effects (i.e. KPI, cervical mucus, SHBG and ceruloplasmin) as well as serum ethynylestradiol and serum norgestrel, following the use of two oral contraceptives containing the same amount of norgestrel (dl-norgestrel 0.5 mg) and either 30 microgram or 50 microgram of ethynylestradiol were compared. There was no difference in the clinical features in either group of patients. There was a statistically significant difference in the levels of unconjugated ethynylestradiol but not in the other biochemical parameters studied. It is concluded that the absence of any such difference might be attributable to the strong antiestrogenic effects of dl-norgestrel.
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Pharmacokinetics of norethindrone (NET) was evaluated in eleven women belonging to a low socio-economic group and in five womem belonging to the high socio-economic group after the administration of an oral dose of 0.35 mg NET minipill on an empty stomach. Blood samples were collected at different intervals of time over a period of 24 hours. Plasma NET was estimated by radioimmunoassay. In all women, peak levels of NET occurred within 1-2 hours and a semi-log plot of plasma NET levels showed a biexponential decline. The half-life of plasma NET clearance was relatively shorter in women of low socio-economic group with poor nutritional status as indicated by anthropometric indices, as compared to that in well nourished women of high socio-economic group. There was a significant positive correlation between weight/(height) 2x 100 index on the one hand and t1/2 (beta) on the other in all the women studied, thereby suggesting a role for nutritional status in the metabolic handling of NET.
Four women used polysiloxane vaginal rings of core design containing 50 mg of norgestrienone (17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxy-estra-4,9,11,trien-3-one). The treatment was given in three-week cycles, leaving one treatment-free week between the cycles. The patterns of bleeding were registered and plasma norgestrienone (R2010), estradiol, progesterone, and gonadotropins were determined. Altogether twelve cycles were studied. The patterns of bleeding were unsatisfactory; only one subject had regular bleedings, and two of these were preceded by a luteal phase. The mean plasma concentration of norgestrienone (R2010) produced by the rings was 0.9 ng/ml. Ovulation was observed in 25% of cycles studied. Some follicular activity was present in every subject as judged by estradiol peaks. Excluding LH peaks in subjects who ovulated, mild pituitary suppression was achieved by this treatment. The only side-effect complained of was acne in one subject. The ring was regarded as easy to use.
Previous clinical experience with six levonorgestrel subdermal capsules showed a very good contraceptive effectiveness and continuation rate, but with a high proportion of bleeding disturbances, particularly of increased bleeding. It was hypothesized that bleeding could be reduced by higher plasma levels of the steroid, using subdermal rods instead of capsules, as rods have been shown to have a release rate 3 or 4 times that of the capsules. Fifty volunteers were enrolled in a study of the clinical performance of 6 subdermal levonorgestrel rods. Results were compared with a previous experience with 100 volunteers who wore 6 levonorgestrel capsules for a year in the same clinic. Requirement for volunteers to enter the study were the same for capsules and rods. The proportion of women wearing 6 subdermal rods who had increased bleeding was about one half as for the women using 6 levonorgestrel capsules. On the other hand, women using rods had about twice the incidence of amenhorrea, and about four times more hypomenorrhea (4 days or less of bleeding in a 90-day period). There were no pregnancies among the rod users and the discontinuation rate for medical reasons was not higher than for capsule users in the same clinic.
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The release of contraceptive steroids through different drug delivery systems into serum and breast milk was investigated in a group of lactating women. Four women in each group were taking either a low dosage progestogen compound like norethisterone (NET) 350 micrograms or d-norgestrel (d-Ng) 50 micrograms alone or low dosage combination pills containing NET 1 mg or d-Ng 150 micrograms with 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol (EE2) or a biodegradable implant containing 25 mg NET or d-Ng. Peak levels in plasma and milk were seen in oral contraceptive users around 2 hours. Of the two low dosage progestogen compounds, d-Ng was below the detection limit in milk within 4 hours whereas NET was still detectable at the 24-hour interval. In contrast to this, because of the larger quantity of steroids in the combination pills, the NET/d-Ng levels in serum as well as in milk were high throughout the 24-hour period. With the subdermal route because of the sustained low release of the drug from the biodegradable implants, the levels in milk were below the detection limit within a day with d-Ng and within a week with NET.