Linear and nonlinear assessment of tolmetin pharmacokinetics

Plasma concentration-time data in man after oral dosing of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent, tolmetin sodium, were fitted to both linear and nonlinear pharmacokinetic equations. The apparent elimination half-life of tolmetin is shown to be 4.5 to 6.0 hours. An analytical method is presented which allows measurement of plasma concentrations for at least 32 hr (compared with a previous limit of about 8 hr) after a single oral dose of the equivalent of 400 mg of tolmetin acid.