Comparative pharmacokinetics of intravenous ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin

In ten volunteers the pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were determined after crossover administration of 100 and 200 mg intravenously (30 min constant infusion). Concentrations in serum and urine were measured by HPLC. Concentrations in serum following parenteral ofloxacin dosages demonstrated dose dependency with long biological half-lives. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated on the basis of an open three-compartment model, which resulted in a high volume of distribution for both substances (166-246 1 for ofloxacin, 178-2611 for ciprofloxacin). AUC for ofloxacin was three times higher than that for ciprofloxacin. Approximately 80% of ofloxacin and 57% of ciprofloxacin were eliminated through the kidneys. Ciprofloxacin had a considerable amount of extrarenal clearance, whereas only 19% of ofloxacin were eliminated by extrarenal mechanisms. Only 4.3% of ofloxacin after iv dosing could be detected as metabolites in urine.