EFFECTS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES ON PHARMACOKINETICS OF LEVOFLOXACIN

The effects of single coadministrations of one of three traditional Ch inese medicines, Hotyu-ekki-to, Rikkun-shi-to, and Juzen-taiho-to, on the pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin (LVFX) were investigated with eig ht healthy volunteers in an open, random crossover fashion. Subjects e ach received a single oral dose of LVFX (200 mg) alone and then with a single coadministration of each Chinese medicine. There were no signi ficant differences in any pharmacokinetic parameters of LVFX between t he groups. Also, no significant changes in the urinary recovery (>80%) and renal clearance of LVFX were observed. These results indicate tha t the Chinese medicines tested have no significant effect on the rate and extent of bioavailability or renal excretion of LVFX.