[Carbamazepine: the bioavailability of 4 oral pharmaceutical products]

The bioavailability of carbamazepine from 4 commercially available products was evaluated in 12 healthy volunteers. A crossover design was used and each patients received 400 mg of each product. Plasma levels of the drug were determined periodically for 72 h using a gas-liquid chromatographic method. An open model of one compartment for first-order absorption was assumed to derive pharmacokinetic parameters. Dissolution kinetics was also evaluated in each product. Significant differences in bioavailability were shown for one product. Results correlated with the in vitro dissolution findings.