Pharmacokinetics of fluocinolone acetonide in patch versus cream formulations

The pharmacokinetics of the fluocinolone acetonide patch containing 8 mcg/cm2 and a 0.025% cream were studied in a cross-over trial in 12 healthy volunteers 6 male and 6 female mean age 24.9 years. Each subject was treated with 0.8 mg of both fluocinolone acetonide formulations for 12 h on non-consecutive days. The high performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the plasma and urine levels of the drug. Minor fluctuations in the plasma profile after patch application were observed, even if no significant difference was found between the two formulations with regard to peak plasma concentration, time to reach peak levels, area under the concentration curve and half-life.