Pharmacokinetics of pyridostigmine in dogs

The pharmacokinetics of the cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine has been studied in six male Beagle dogs after iv infusion and after oral doses as an immediate-release syrup and as an extended-release tablet, all at a level of approximately 0.6 mg/kg. Pyridostigmine was characterized as a drug of relatively long terminal half-life (8.3 h +/- 2.1 SD), low systemic clearance (13 mL/min/kg +/- 1 SD) and high volumes of distribution (Vd lambda z, 8.7 L/kg +/- 1.9 SD and Vdss, 3.9 L/kg +/- 0.9 SD). The ratio of mean residence times in tissues and plasma was greater than 4, indicating a high affinity of peripheral tissues for the drug. This ratio was about twofold higher in three of the dogs than in the others. Pyridostigmine was slowly and incompletely bioavailable in these dogs; the systemic availability was 44.4% +/- 4.3 SD from the syrup and 33.6% +/- 9.5 SD from the tablet. Pyridostigmine disposition in these dogs was largely determined by distribution processes.