Pharmacokinetics of oral and rectal flurbiprofen in children

Eight subjects, aged 6-12 years and weighing 18.8-36.7 kg, received single doses of flurbiprofen 50 or 75 mg (corresponding to 1.4-2.7 mg/kg) as syrup and suppository in a Latin square design. Half-life (2.7-3.2 h), elimination constant (0.22-0.26 h-1), area under the plasma level curve (72.4-77.3 micrograms X h X ml-1) and time to reach the concentration peak (1-0.75 h) were similar after the syrup and suppository. Flurbiprofen showed equivalent bioavailability after oral and rectal administration and the same pharmacokinetic profile was confirmed in children as observed in adults.