Inter- and intra-subject variability of nitrendipine and the effects of food.

Plasma concentrations of nitrendipine were measured, after single (20 mg) oral doses, in young healthy volunteers. On three occasions the subjects ingested the dose having fasted overnight. Data from these three occasions were used to assess variability in nitrendipine pharmacokinetics and both inter- and intra-subject variability were high. On a fourth occasion, the subjects took the tablet after a standard meal. The effects of food on nitrendipine pharmacokinetics, based on the comparison of data from the first fasting visit and the food visit, were negligible.