COMPARATIVE PHARMACOKINETIC PROFILES OF 2 NORFLOXACIN FORMULATIONS AFTER ORAL-ADMINISTRATION IN RABBITS

The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of two norfloxacin (NFLX) formulations, norfloxacin-glycine acetate (NFLXGA) and norfloxacin ni cotinate (NFLXN), were compared after single oral administration with a dose of 5 mg equivalent NFLX base/kg of body weight in twenty rabbit s. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of all formulations were fitted by a two-compartment open model. The elimination half-life (T-1/2 bet a) of NFLX (3.37 +/- 1.37 hr) was not significant as compared with tho se of NFLXN (3.61 +/- 0.65 hr) and NFLXGA (3.93 +/- 1.54 hr). The abso lute bioavailability (F) of NFLX, NFLXN and NFLXGA was calculated as 2 9%, 45% and 40%. In addition, tissue distribution of NFLXN and NFLXGA did not show any differences of NFLX concentrations in liver, kidney, serum and muscle. From the present results, it could be suggested that NFLXN and NFLXGA are considered to be bioequivalent when they use ora l medication for rabbits.