Pharmacokinetics of coumarin upon i.v. administration in man

The disposition pharmacokinetics of coumarin has been studied after i.v. administration in man, and might be described best by an open two-compartment model. Three dose sizes have been studied, 0.125, 0.2 and 0.25 mg/kg. The mean biological half-life was found to be 1.81, 1.45 and 1.49 h, respectively, for the three dose sizes. Coumarin is extensively distributed. The volume of the central compartment apparently comprises the extracellular and intracellular fluid. The study indicates dose-dependent (non-linear) pharmacokinetics with respect to distribution.