This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.The purpose of this research is to determine if there are differences in how fast and how much of the prescription psychiatric medication called methylphenidate (or as its known by its brand name, Ritalin ), is metabolized or broken down, and circulated into the bloodstream depending on the rate of genetic expression of an enzyme known as carboxylesterase-1 (CES1). Although the exact rates and magnitudes of differences in the amounts of CES1 are not known, there is evidence suggesting it is present in different amounts in different people based upon their genetic make up. Thus, these differences in expression of the CES1 enzyme may have a significant influence on their response to certain medications such as methylphenidate that are metabolized by this enzyme.Subjects participating in this study will be normal volunteers who specifically participated in a previous study in which they took methylphenidate on three occasions and had blood samples drawn at multiple time points in a study assessing methylphenidate interactions with drinking alcohol. Thus, the way their bodies handle this medication is now known by the investigators involved in that previous study. However, different individuals can have very different methylphenidate blood levels-even when receiving the same dose based on their body weight.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 395 publications
