Summary
The pharmacokinetic profiles of transdermal timolol 6 and 24 mg (as 5 and 20% w/v patches) was studied in four healthy young volunteers. To assess its bioavailability, the pharmacokinetics of an IV infusion of timolol maleate 5 mg was also determined in the same subjects. When the 20% (w/v) timolol patch was applied, the mean bioavailability was 74.4%.
Plasma timolol concentrations were below the detection limit when a 5% patch was applied to the same skin area in all four subjects, except for one in whom the bioavailability was 23.6%. Weak erythema developed at the application site in all of the volunteers after application of the 20% (w/v) patch. However, erythema did not develop in any volunteer when the 5% patch was applied. The β-blocking effect was determined by exercise testing.
Similar plasma levels generated similar changes in exercise-induced heart rate after the transdermal and intravenous administration of timolol.
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Kubota, K., Yamada, T., Kikuchi, K. et al. Pharmacokinetics and β-blocking effects of transdermal timolol. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 44, 493–495 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315551
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315551