[Release, absorption and elimination of theophylline from fast and slowly released oral formulations]

Each 2 tablets of four tablet formulations with 150 mg theophylline were administered to 6 and 5 volunteers, respectively, as single oral dose. 8 volunteers received 256 mg theophylline as a solution and as a sustained released formulation, as well as 176 mg theophylline as short intravenous bolus infusion. The elimination was independent of the examined formulations, but differences occurred between the experiments with the different groups of volunteers. The invasion parameters (t1/2i) of the four fast released tablet formulations corresponded to the values (t1/2a) of the oral theophylline solution. Furthermore, no difference existed concerning the mean times (Tsys). The mean time (theophylline) for the body model, Tvss, is 9.9 h; the mean time, which is attributed to the absorption process (Tabs) is 0.7 h; the mean in vivo dissolution time (Tdiss-vivo) for the sustained release formulation is 6.3 h. The mean time after oral administration of the theophylline solution (Tbiol) is 10.6 h. General conditions for a comparison between the in vitro and the in vivo release data are reported.