Pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel in 18 women after 1 month of treatment with a triphasic oral contraceptive.
A triphasic levonorgestrel (LNG)- and ethinylestradiol-containing oral contraceptive was administered to 18 women. Plasma samples were obtained throughout a treatment cycle just before drug administration and on the last treatment day (day 21), several plasma samples were collected from each individual up to 48 h postadministration. LNG was determined by radioimmunoassay in all plasma samples. In addition, the concentration of sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was determined in plasma samples collected from the same subjects during treatment, as well as during a pre- and a posttreatment cycle. During the treatment cycle, plasma levels of LNG determined just before drug administration increased and reached steady state at about day 16. This increase was due to an increased dose of LNG according to the triphasic dose regimen, a concomitantly ethinylestradiol-induced increase in SHBG and due to pharmacokinetic accumulation, since LNG had a terminal half-life of approximately 28.5 h and the dosing interval was 24 h. Steady-state levels and pharmacokinetic parameters of LNG determined on the last day of treatment were in good accordance with previously published results.
Kuhnz
W
W
Research Laboratories, Schering, Berlin, FRG.
al-Yacoub
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel