Absolute bioavailability, rate of absorption, and dose proportionality of sulpiride in humans

The pharmacokinetics of orally administered sulpiride was determined in a series of three studies. In the first study, 12 subjects received an oral solution (200 mg) and an iv dose (100 mg). The second study also included an iv dose, and examined the absorption of 200-, 300-, and 400-mg doses given as 50-mg capsules to six subjects. The third study compared the bioavailability of a 200-mg capsule dose with a 200-mg im dose in eight subjects. The concentration of sulpiride in plasma, red blood cells, and urine was measured by HPLC. The disposition of the drug was generally best described by a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model, with absorption appearing to occur by two sequential zero-order processes. The fraction of dose absorbed after oral administration was approximately 30% based on plasma and urine data. After the 200-mg dose, the mean elimination half-life was 7.0 h, and the mean residence time was 8.4 h. For each subject, total clearance, corrected for the fraction absorbed, and renal clearance were similar. The dose proportionality study demonstrated linear disposition kinetics.