COMPARATIVE PHARMACOKINETIC EVALUATION OF COMPRESSED NAPROXEN SUPPOSITORIES IN HUMANS

Compressed naproxen (CAS 22204-53-1.) suppositories (250 mg) were form ulated by dispersing the drug in molten polyethylene glycol 4000 follo wed by congealing and pulverising the mass into granules and then comp ressing into mass into suppositories. Their pharmacokinetic performanc e was evaluated and compared with that of a standard naproxen tablet i n 12 healthy human volunteers. There were no statistically significant (p > 0.05) differences in C(max), t(max), t1/2, AUC and mean residenc e time (MRT) observed after oral and rectal administration of tablet a nd suppository, respectively. The relative rectal bioavailability of n aproxen from the compressed suppositories was 96.7 +/- 2.6%. Pharmacok inetics of naproxen after oral and rectal a&ministration was highly co mparable.