[Bioavailability of Dilanacin and Dilanacin new]

The absolute bioavailability of the digoxin tablet (dilanacin new) newly developed by the VEB Arzneimittelwerk Dresden is compared with the bioavailability of the old preparation, and it is referred to the clinical importance of the difference established. The determination of the absolute bioavailability was performed by radioimmunological concentration measurements in the serum and the urine, respectively, after single application of 0.5 and 1 mg, respectively, of the corresponding digoxin preparation (dilanacin intravenously, dilanacin and dilanacin new oral), in which cases 2 methods were applied: comparison of the surfaces below the curves of the serum levels of 0-48 h and the cumulative excretion of urine over 48 h. The typical courses of the serum levels in the different forms of application are figured and tabulated and interpreted. The results of the cumulative excretion of urine are differentiatedly explained in a table. According to the two methods corresponding results for the absolute bioavailability were achieved: 31 and 35%, respectively, for dilanacin and 62 and 67%, respectively, for dilanacin new. For the clinical practice an average oral maintenance dose of 0.25-0.375 mg/die is recommended for patients with healthy kidneys.