Mean total clearance of desipramine from plasma was significantly lower in Chinese (73.5 +/- 38.8 1/h) than in U.S. Caucasians (123 +/- 57 l/h),P < 0.05. (Measured after 5 days of 100 mg oral admission). 29% of the Chinese and 0% of the U.S. Caucasians demonstrated slow clearance (< 33 1/h) suggesting that a considarable percentage of Chinese would be at risk for toxicity with routine doses. Area Under the Curve was significantly higher among Chinese (946 ng/ml h) compared to the US Caucasians (654 ng/ml h).
Healthy volunteers: 14 Chinese and 16 U.S. Caucasians
(Chinese: mean time in US was 4.2 years; 1 born in US; 10 were natives of China, 3 of Taiwan and one of Hong Kong).