Bioavailability of indomethacin from two multiple-units controlled-release formulations

Two multiple-units controlled-release indomethacin capsule formulations containing enteric-coated pellets were bioequivalent to a standard capsule formulation (taken as the reference) in respect of extent of bioavailability in a crossover study with normal human subjects. However, drug absorption from the enteric-coated pellet formulations was slower, when compared to that from the standard reference capsule. The standard reference capsule released 85% of its drug content in vitro during 10 min at pH 6.5 and 98% during 1 h at pH 7.5. On enteric-coated pellet capsule formulation (I) released 77% during 1 h at pH 6.5 and the other (II) released 10% during 1 h at pH 6.5. Release of drug from each capsule of enteric-coated pellets was complete during 1 h at pH 7.5. Although differences in areas under the plasma indomethacin concentration-time curves were not significantly different, the peak plasma levels and the times of their occurrence indicated that the absorption rates of indomethacin decreased in the order, reference formulation greater than pellet formulation I greater than pellet formulation II, which was the same rank order as that of their dissolution rates in vitro. The data indicated that multiple units controlled-release formulations represent a reliable and reproducible source of indomethacin, which by avoiding extremes of local or systemic drug concentrations also should be better tolerated by individuals susceptible to unwanted gastrointestinal and centrally-mediate side-effects.