Rectal and oral absorption of methylprednisolone acetate.

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Garg DC, Wagner JG, Sakmar E, Weidler DJ, Albert KS

Rectal and oral absorption of methylprednisolone acetate.

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1979 Aug;26(2):232-9. doi: 10.1002/cpt1979262232.

PubMed ID
455892 [ View in PubMed
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Abstract

Rectal absorption of methylprednisolone acetate and oral absorption of methylprednisolone and methylprednisolone acetate were investigated in a single-dose 3-way crossover study of 12 normal male volunteers. The median value of bioavailability (relative to oral dose) of methylprednisolone acetate based on unchanged methylprednisolone plasma levels was 14.2% after rectal administration, suggesting that the drug exerts its therapeutic effect topically rather than systemically. In contrast, the median of total radioactivity in urine (as a percentage of rectal dose) was 34.3% (range, 4.52% to 58.8%), suggesting partial bacterial metabolism in the rectum prior to absorption. Mean bioavailability (relative to oral administration of methylprednisolone acetate) of methylprednisolone after oral administration was 89.9%, indicating somewhat better systemic availability of the ester than the alcohol. The average apparent elimination rate constant for methylprednisolone after oral administration of both ester and alcohol was 0.290 hr-1, corresponding to a half-life of 2.39 hr.

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