Drug absorption may be delayed after stroke: results of the paracetamol absorption test

Background: autonomic changes are frequent after stroke but it is not known whether gastric emptying is altered. We have investigated this using the p aracetamol absorption test. Methods: 12 acute stroke patients and 13 healthy controls of similar age re ceived 1 g oral paracetamol tablets. We studied all patients within 24 h of the stroke and 5 days later. Standard pharmacokinetic measurements were de rived from the plasma paracetamol-time curve. Results: in acute stroke patients, mean plasma T-max, was delayed compared with that in controls (96.3 vs 46.2 min, P = 0.015). The C-max of paracetam ol was also lower (16.1 vs 23.9 mg l(-1), P=0.028). The area under the curv e of paracetamol did not differ significantly in acute stroke patients and controls. Conclusions: gastric emptying appears to be delayed in acute stroke patient s, and this may result in delayed pharmacological action of Orally administ ered drugs.