STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF FOOD ON THE ABSORPTION OF THEOPHYLLINE

The possible influence of the food and fat content of meals on the bio availability and pharmacokinetics of a 350 mg sustained release theoph ylline (CAS 58-55-9) preparation (Bronchoretard(R)) was investigated a fter single dose oral administration to 18 volunteers in a randomised 3-way crossover design. The treatments investigating administration of the test preparation in a fasting state, after a standard meal and af ter a high-caloric fat evening meal, according to commonly applied rul es, were shown to be equivalent with respect to the extent of bioavail ability (AUC) and the observed maximal concentration (C-max). Pharmaco kinetic parameters describing sustained release characteristics were n ot changed to any relevant degree. As expected, the co-administration of food resulted in a physiologically determined delay in absorption, which is probably not therapeutically relevant during long-term admini stration.