Summary
The absorption of erythromycin from two different enteric-coated preparations was evaluated in three groups of healthy volunteers. After a single dose, taken after an overnight fast, absorption was significantly better from enteric-coated pellets than from tablets; both the mean peak serum concentration and the peak mean level were higher (p<0.01) in all three groups, and the mean area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC) was at least 65% larger. Eight out of 23 subjects showed no or only a very low serum concentration after the enteric-coated tablets. In a follow-up study, 250 mg doses were given 6-hourly for 3 days, and again the mean maximum serum concentration was significantly higher (p<0.05) after the pellets. In conclusion, enteric-coated pellets led to more regular and predictable absorption of erythromycin than did coated tablets.
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Hovi, T., Josefsson, K. & Renkonen, O.V. Erythromycin absorption in healthy volunteers from single and multiple doses of enteric-coated pellets and tablets. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 25, 271–273 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543802
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543802