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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
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Transport Properties of Ibuprofen Encapsulated in Cyclodextrin Nanosponge Hydrogels: A Proton HR-MAS NMR Spectroscopy Study
Published on: August 15, 2016
Rapidly dissolving formulations for quick absorption during pain episodes: ibuprofen.
F Jamali1, A Aghazadeh-Habashi
1Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. fjamali@pharmacy.ualberta.ca
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
|January 26, 2008
Summary
Pain impairs oral drug absorption by slowing disintegration and dissolution. Fast-dissolving ibuprofen caplets significantly improved absorption in rats with vagal suppression and humans with dental pain compared to regular formulations.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Drug Absorption
- Gastrointestinal Physiology
Background:
- Vagal nerve activity influences drug absorption.
- Pain and associated physiological changes can impair oral drug bioavailability.
- The disintegration and dissolution rates of oral formulations may be critical factors in drug absorption during pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of vagal nerve suppression on ibuprofen absorption in rats.
- To determine if enhancing the disintegration and dissolution rate of ibuprofen formulations improves absorption during vagal suppression in rats and dental pain in humans.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent vagal suppression using propantheline before receiving regular or fast-dissolving ibuprofen.
- Human subjects with dental pain received either regular or fast-dissolving ibuprofen caplets post-surgery.
- Serial blood samples were collected to assess ibuprofen enantiomer absorption and bioavailability.
Main Results:
- Vagal suppression in rats significantly decreased ibuprofen absorption from regular-release but not fast-dissolving formulations.
- In humans, fast-dissolving ibuprofen caplets showed significantly faster absorption and a 2.7-fold higher area under the plasma concentration-time curve within the first hour compared to regular-release caplets.
- A 1-hour difference in time to peak concentration (tmax) was observed between the two ibuprofen formulations in humans.
Conclusions:
- Impaired oral drug absorption during pain episodes is likely linked to slow drug disintegration and dissolution.
- Fast-dissolving formulations can overcome absorption deficits associated with pain and vagal suppression.
- Optimizing formulation dissolution characteristics is crucial for effective drug delivery in painful conditions.
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