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Rectal Administration of Morphine Hydrogel: Absorption and Bioavailability in Women
Author(s) -
Westerling D.,
Andersson K. E.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1984.tb02115.x
Subject(s) - medicine , morphine , rectal administration , bioavailability , absorption (acoustics) , anesthesia , plasma concentration , pharmacology , pharmacokinetics , physics , acoustics
Seven patients undergoing radiological treatment for carcinoma of the uterus were given morphine intramuscularly (0.15 mg kg ‐1 ) and morphine in a starch hydrogel rectally (0.56 mg kg ‐1 ) on two separate occasions. The hydrogel preparation was used in order to improve the contact between the rectal mucosa and thus improve and possibly prolong the absorption of morphine. Plasma concentrations of morphine were followed for 8 h and analysed with a GG/MS technique. It was found that 45–120 min after administration of morphine hydrogel, a mean maximum plasma morphine concentration of 61 ngml ‐1 was obtained. After 8 h, the mean plasma concentration was 10 ngml ‐1 . The mean biological availability of morphine hydrogel was 48% (range 31–72%). It is suggested that morphine hydrogel, given rectally, can be clinically useful.