Pharmacokinetics of parenteral and oral melperone in man

The pharmacokinetics of melperone (Buronil, Ferrosan, Sweden) was studied after administration of various parenteral and oral doses to man. After parenteral administration, the data could be fitted to a two-compartment model, but after oral dosing the distribution phase could not be separated from the elimination phase, and so an one-compartment model gave the best fit. The half-lives were about 3-4 h, except after intramuscular injection, when the half-life was about 6 h. The bioavailability of oral doses was about 60% of the intravenous injection. After the highest oral dose of 100 mg, the pharmacokinetics, expressed as AUC or Cmax, showed non-linearity, possibly due to saturation of the hepatic elimination system.