Bioavailability of controlled-release metoclopramide. 1st communication: single dose study

The bioavailability of metoclopramide monochloride hydrate after single dose oral administration of a controlled-release capsule (Gastro-Timelets) was compared with that of oral metoclopramide monochloride hydrate solution in four normal volunteers. 30 mg of each product was administered to each subject in a cross-over manner on two separate occasions and plasma metoclopramide levels were measured using a HPLC method. Although peak plasma metoclopramide concentrations were lower, and occurred later after capsule treatment than after solution, analysis of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) values for the two formulations demonstrated that the products were equivalent in terms of the extent of absorption, with the mean AUC value (0-30 h) for the capsule 943.7 ng/h/ml and that for the solution 896.2 ng/h/ml.