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Effect of food on nitrofurantoin absorption
Author(s) -
Bates Theodore R.,
Sequeira Joel A.,
Tembo Aubrey V.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1974161part163
Subject(s) - nitrofurantoin , bioavailability , capsule , absorption (acoustics) , microcrystalline , drug , pharmacology , excretion , urinary system , pharmacokinetics , chemistry , medicine , antibiotics , materials science , biology , biochemistry , botany , composite material , ciprofloxacin , crystallography
The effect of food on the absorption characteristics of nitrofurantoin from a commercial capsule dosage form containing macrocrystalline drug and a commercial tablet dosage form containing microcrystalline drug was assessed in human subiects by a urinary excretion method. In fasting subjects, less nitrofurantoin was absorbed and at a slower rate, and attained lower body levels when the capsule rather than the tablet dosage form was orally administered. When each was administered with food, the absorption of nitrofurantoin was appreciably delayed. Food in the gastrointestinal tract produced an increase in the peak body levels of nitrofurantoin from the macrocrystalline form. No effect of food was observed on the maximum levels after the microcrystalline form. There were increases of 80% and 30% in the bioavailability of nitrofurantoin in nonfasting as compared to fasting subiects, of macro crystalline nitrofurantoin capsules and microcrystalline nitrofurantoin tablets, respectively. There was an increase in the duration of therapeutic urinary concentrations of nitrofurantoin when either form was taken with food. The comman practice of using fasting subiects in bioavailability studies of drug products normally administered with food is questionable.