Enhanced elimination of piroxicam by administration of activated charcoal or cholestyramine

This study has compared the effect of repeated administration of charcoal and cholestyramine on the elimination of piroxicam. Eight young adults were given piroxicam as a single dose of 20 mg, on 3 separate occasions. On one of the occasions charcoal was also given. On another occasion cholestyramine was also administered. The mean elimination half-life after piroxicam alone was 53.1 h. This was reduced to 40.0 h by charcoal administration and to 29.6 h after administration of cholestyramine. In the second phase of the study 7 elderly subjects received piroxicam 20 mg for 14 days on two occasions. Cholestyramine administration at the end of one of the periods reduced the mean elimination half-life of piroxicam from 52.3 h to 27.3 h.