Abstract
Objective: the aim of this relative bioavailability study was to determine the rate and extent of absorption of Alikal Dolor® (effervescent powder containing paracetamol 500 mg/sodium bicarbonate 2318 mg) – test formulation (T) in relation to Parageniol® (paracetamol 500 mg coated tablets) – reference formulation (R). Methods: 18 healthy volunteers (10 male and 8 female aged between 21 and 46 years) received, after 2 h of standardized breakfast, a single oral dose with 220 ml of water, in an open, randomized, crossover study, with a 7-day wash-out period. Paracetamol concentrations were established at 0, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 75, 90 min and at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 h postdose by HPLC with an ultraviolet detector. Results: the regression coefficient determined for paracetamol calibration curves was 0.9983 ± 0.0034 and the working range was from 0.2 to 50 μg/ml. The quantification limit was 0.2 μg/ml. The rate of absorption was significantly greater (p < 0.03) for T (Tmax = 20.4 min) compared with R (Tmax = 38.4 min). Extent of absorption over the first 30 min postdose AUC(0-30 min) was 4.21-fold greater (p < 0.03) for T compared with R, without differences between Cmax. The 90% CI on the geometric mean for Cmax, AUC(0-10 h) and AUC(0-∞) ratios (T/R) were within the limits of 0.80 – 1.25, indicating both formulations were bioequivalent with respect to these parameters. Conclusion: paracetamol was absorbed at least twice as fast from T-containing sodium bicarbonate compared with R. This pharmacokinetic feature could prove crucial from the therapeutic point of view as it would allow a lower latency in the action time of paracetamol in producing its analgesic and antithermal effect.
Disclosure
This study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Argentina, South America.
The authors would like to thank P Czerniuk and R Bertuola for their professional participation during the hospitalization of the volunteers, JC Vassallo for his technical support and MB Kramer for study monitoring and administrative assistance.