Interactions among the components in amphetamine-type stimulant tablets in human intestinal Caco-2 cells and in oral administration to rats

aIms: There has been a considerable increase in the number of seizures of amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) tablets in Japan. The ATS tablets contain one or more of active ingredients, which include 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), methamphetamine (MA), etc.. In addition, the tablets often contain other components with hallucinogenic and/or stimulant effects such as ketamine and caffeine. various components in such tablets might interact in the body, leading to serious toxic symptoms. Therefore, the prediction of interactions among drugs is important for public health and forensic analysis. We examined the interaction among the components in ATS tablets using Caco-2 cells derived from human colons and using rats in order to investigate the interactions in absorption process on digestive tract that was the first step of pharmacokinetics after oral intake.