[Absorption and excretion of g-strophanthin after intravenous or sublingual administration (author's transl)]

Tritiated g-strophanthin was administered to six volunteer patients in a dose of 0.25 mg intravenously and 6.0 mg sublingually 1-3 weeks apart. Radioactivity in plasma and urine was measured afterwards for 48 or 96 hours, respectively. Plasma concentration fell to about a fifth of the maximal concentration within 6 min after intravenous administration, total excretion within three days being about 50%, with a half-time of 11 hours. Measurable plasma concentration after sublingual administration was demonstrable only after 15 min in some and after 2 hours in all the six patients. Radioactivity counts increased up to the 24th hour, in three patients up to the 48th hour. Maximal plasma concentration ranged from 4.7 to 0.7 ng/ml, corresponding to levels reached 15 min or 4 hours, respectively, after intravenous administration. Urinary radioactivity reached its maximum after 24-48 hours and then decreased. Within three days 0.6 and 2.5% of the administered radioactivity was recovered, corresponding to the g-strophanthin doses of 0.072 to 0.3 mg. The findings once again confirm the low and irregular absorption of g-strophanthin when administered sublingually or orally.