Propranolol steady-state pharmacokinetics are unaltered by omeprazole

In a randomised double-blind cross-over study, 8 normal subjects received propranolol 80 mg twice daily with omeprazole 20 mg or identical placebo each morning. Propranolol kinetics were measured on day 8 of both treatment periods. Areas under the propranolol concentration/time curves were not significantly increased by omeprazole treatment: off treatment mean 787.6, on treatment 802.5 ng^-1·ml·h. Maximum and minimum steady-state propranolol concentrations were similarily unaffected. Omeprazole also failed to increase the clinical effect of propranolol, as assessed by exercise tests on Day 8 of treatment. We conclude that omeprazole in the dose likely to be used for peptic ulcer has no significant effect on the kinetics or action of propranolol.