[Studies of rokitamycin in pediatrics]

Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on a new macrolide antibiotic, rokitamycin (RKM) dry syrup for pediatric use, were done, and results as summarized below were observed: 1. Five children with ages between 6 and 10 years were administered orally with RKM at a dose level of 10 mg/kg either at 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after meal on a crossover design, and plasma concentrations and urinary excretion rates of the drug were measured. Plasma concentrations of RKM following the administration before meal were 0.50 microgram/ml at 1/2 hour, 0.43 microgram/ml at 1 hour, 0.15 microgram/ml at 2 hours, 0.03 microgram/ml at 4 hours, and not detectable at 6 hours. Plasma concentrations following the administration after meal were 0.11 microgram/ml at 1/2 hour, 0.15 microgram/ml at 1 hour, 0.09 microgram/ml at 2 hours, 0.03 microgram/ml at 4 hours, and not detectable at 6 hours. The 0-6 hour urinary recovery rates were 1.41% following the administration before meal, and 0.93% following the administration after meal. These results suggested that the drug might be absorbed more rapidly, giving a higher plasma concentration, when administered before meal than when administered after meal. Changes in plasma concentrations of RKM following the administration of 10 mg/kg before meal were similar to those of two 100 mg RKM tablets (TMS-19-Q.GC tablets) to adult patients. Therefore, it seemed optimal to administer 10 mg/kg 3 times daily at fasting to children as a rule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)