Pharmacokinetics of (+)-rolipram and (-)-rolipram in healthy volunteers

Plasma levels of S-(+)-rolipram and R-(-)-rolipram in six healthy male volunteers were measured by radioimmunoassay after intravenous injection of 0.1 mg and oral administration of 1.0 mg of the pure enantiomers. Following i.v. treatment, plasma levels of both isomers declined in three phases, with half-lives of 0.2 h, 0.6-0.9 h and 6-8 h. Total clearance was 6 ml.min-1.kg-1. Oral administration of 1.0 mg gave a peak concentration of 16 ng.ml-1 after 0.5 h. Bioavailability of (+)-rolipram was 77% and of the (-) enantiomer it was 74%. There was no significant difference in Cmax, half-life, total clearance or bioavailability between the two enantiomers.